Italy police bust Algeria‑Sardinia migrant smuggling ring, arrest eight suspects

Italian police announced on Thursday that they had dismantled a migrant smuggling network operating between Algeria, Sardinia and France. Eight Algerian men were placed in pre‑trial detention, including three traffickers and a suspected leader of the organization. The joint investigation, carried out by the police and the anti‑mafia unit in Cagliari since February, uncovered at least five illegal crossing operations launched from the Algerian town of El Kala to the southern coast of Sardinia. Small motorised boats carrying 10‑12 migrants each transported a total of 50‑60 people, mainly Algerians with some Tunisians, to Italy. The network, dubbed “Phantom,” is alleged to have recruited migrants in Algeria, organized the voyages, collected fees of about €2,500 per migrant and maintained logistical links in Marseille, France.