Spain dismantles major Mediterranean people‑smuggling and drug‑trafficking network FAST-MOVING

Spain people smuggling drug trafficking 78 arrests €24 million profit

Spanish National Police and the Civil Guard, together with Europol and partner forces from France, Portugal and Poland, carried out a joint operation that resulted in 78 arrests – 77 in Spain and one in Algeria – and the seizure of 18 high‑speed vessels valued at over €5 million. The criminal organization used the same fast boats to ship synthetic drugs from Spain to Algeria and to return with migrants, transporting more than 2,000 people across 64 documented voyages.

Authorities say the network earned more than €24 million from the combined drug‑trafficking and people‑smuggling activities. Seized assets included €26,675 in cash, 15,000 MDMA tablets, 61 kg of hashish, 500 g of cocaine, 40 g of methamphetamine, a 38‑calibre revolver and other weapons. Four high‑value targets and the group’s “hawalader”, who managed its informal money‑transfer system, were among those detained. Over 180 officers participated in the raids across Andalusia, Murcia, the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands and other locations.

Entities: Algerian criminal network · Algerian‑origin Mediterranean smuggling network · Civil Guard (Guardia Civil) · Douglas Rico · El Tigre · Europol · Guardia Civil (Spain) · Hawalader (money‑transfer manager) · High‑speed smuggling vessels · Luis Fernando Zambrano Fernández · Policía Nacional (Spain) · Román Alberto Ospino Villarroel

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.

[● 12 SOURCES] 78 people were arrested in the operation (77 in Spain, 1 in Algeria). (Police statements)
[● 12 SOURCES] The network generated profits exceeding €24 million from its drug‑trafficking and people‑smuggling activities. (Police statements)
[● 12 SOURCES] The operation documented 64 migration episodes that moved more than 2,000 migrants. (Police statements)
[● 12 SOURCES] More than 180 police officers from Spain, France, Portugal, Poland and Europol participated in the operation. (Police statements)
[● 12 SOURCES] The network used high‑speed vessels to transport synthetic drugs from Spain to Algeria and migrants back to Spain. (Police statements)
[● 12 SOURCES] Four high‑value targets and a “hawalader” who managed the group’s informal money‑transfer system were among those detained. (Police statements)
[● 12 SOURCES] 18 high‑speed vessels were seized, valued at over €5 million. (Police statements)
[● 12 SOURCES] Seized assets included €26,675 cash, 15,000 MDMA tablets, 61 kg hashish, 500 g cocaine, 40 g methamphetamine, a 38‑calibre revolver and other weapons. (Police statements)