MADRID: Spanish police said on Thursday they had dismantled a global people-smuggling network that brought Indian, Pakistani and Bolivian migrants to Europe and North America.
A total of 77 nationals of Spain, Italy, Libya, Bolivia and Mexico, including 6 alleged leaders, were arrested in multiple Spanish cities, ending a two-year probe.
The criminal network used elaborate routes to bring Pakistani and Indian migrants to the United States and Canada, and Bolivians to Spain, for fees ranging from 8,000 to 10,000 euros ($8,700-10,900).
More than 200 police officers worked on the joint operation between Spain, Europol and the US’ Homeland Security Investigations, Spanish police said in a statement.
The migrants flew from Pakistan and India to Bahrain, then to Egypt, and finally to Libya. From there, they embarked on small boats without food or water — and arrived on the Italian island of Lampedusa 30 hours later.
They stayed in Turin in northern Italy, before flying to Zaragoza or Barcelona in Spain.
Ring members then gave the migrants travel documents for Mexico, where cross-border networks brought them into the US.
The Bolivians transited through Egypt or Libya before reaching Spain.
Investigators searched 10 houses and travel agencies and found 500,000 euros ($545,000) in cash.
Spain is one of the main gateways for illegal immigration to Europe. Last year, 56,852 undocumented people entered the country, up 82 percent on 2022.
Spain busts global ring for smuggling Indian, Pakistani migrants to Europe, N. America
https://arab.news/n9ytb
Spain busts global ring for smuggling Indian, Pakistani migrants to Europe, N. America
- Seventy-seven nationals of Spain, Italy, Libya, Bolivia and Mexico were arrested in multiple Spanish cities
- Criminal network used elaborate routes to bring Pakistani, Indian migrants to US, Canada for $8,700-10,900
UK wants closer EU defense ties with potential bid to join new SAFE fund
- European Union Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and other EU officials are due in London for talks this week
- Starmer has tried to work more closely with the EU and remove some post-Brexit trade barriers
BEIJING: British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said his government will consider applying to join a second possible multi-billion-euro European Union fund for defense projects as his ministers prepare for talks with EU counterparts this week.
The European Commission is considering launching a second edition of its SAFE loans scheme as Europe seeks to bolster its defenses due to growing fears of Russia and doubts about US security commitments to Europe under President Donald Trump.
A British plan to join the original 150 billion-euro ($177 billion) SAFE fund broke down in November after Starmer’s government refused to pay a financial contribution to join, representing a setback for a post-Brexit reset of relations.
Asked if Britain would seek to join a new version of SAFE, Starmer said Europe needed to do more to rearm.
“That should require us to look at schemes like SAFE and others to see whether there is a way in which we can work more closely together,” he told reporters on his way to China last week. The comments were scheduled for release on Sunday.
“Whether it’s SAFE or other initiatives, it makes good sense for Europe in the widest sense of the word — which is the EU plus other European countries — to work more closely together.”
European Union Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic and other EU officials are due in London for talks this week.
Starmer has tried to work more closely with the EU and remove some post-Brexit trade barriers in contrast to the rancorous relations between previous Conservative governments and the EU as they negotiated Britain’s departure from the bloc, which was completed in 2020.
He has also taken a leading role in co-ordinating European support for Ukraine.
Under the SAFE scheme, the EU jointly borrowed money on financial markets to lend to countries in the bloc for defense projects.
Asked about recent criticism from Nigel Farage, whose Reform UK party is leading in the polls, who said the governing Labour government was moving too close to the EU, Starmer said the Brexit campaigner had repeatedly misled the public.
“I wouldn’t listen too much to what Nigel Farage has to say about this,” Starmer said. ($1 = 0.8440 euros)
