Spanish and Algerian authorities, with support from Europol, arrested 78 individuals linked to one of the largest smuggling networks operating in the western Mediterranean, officials announced on Friday, August 7th, 2026.

The criminal group trafficked synthetic drugs such as MDMA, firearms, and explosives from Spain and Portugal to Algeria. On the return journey, they smuggled migrants and weapons to the Spanish mainland and Ibiza using high-speed "ghost speedboats." Europol stated the network had "evolved from drug trafficking into a duel-flow criminal enterprise designed to maximise profits."

The operation, led by Spanish police, involved searches across 17 locations in Spain, including Alicante, Almería, Cartagena, and Murcia. Seized items included 18 high-speed vessels valued at €5 million (£4.2 million), guns, over €25,000 (£21,400) in cash, and 15,000 MDMA pills.

Europol reported that migrants were smuggled along routine routes from Algeria to Spain, with fees reaching up to €12,000 (£10,200) per person. In a single trip, over 50 migrants could be transported, with estimated profits from migrant smuggling alone exceeding €24 million (£20 million).

This announcement follows a recent influx of approximately 78,000 migrants into the Spanish North African territory of Ceuta, attributed to online rumors about an open border. While most migrants returned to Morocco, between 3,000 and 5,000 remain, according to Juan Jesús Vivas, the exclave's leader.

The network is also linked to other criminal activities, including violent robberies, extortion, illegal detentions, and money laundering. Europol highlighted that the group organised transfers in international waters near the Spanish coastline.

Sources