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

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

Europol noted migrants were smuggled along routine routes from Algeria to Spain, with fees reaching up to €12,000 (£10,200) per person. In single trips, over 50 migrants could be transported, with estimated profits from migrant smuggling alone exceeding €24 million (£20 million). The group organized transfers in international waters near the Spanish coastline.

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. Most migrants have returned to Morocco, but between 3,000 and 5,000 remain, according to Juan Jesús Vivas, the territory's leader.

The network is also associated with other criminal activities, including violent robberies, extortion, illegal detentions, and money laundering.

Sources