Police Dismantle Major Drug and Migrant Smuggling Network in Western Mediterranean

Europol said 78 people were arrested in Spain and Algeria in a bust of the network, which is also linked to other criminal activities including violent robberies, extortion, illegal detentions, and money laundering. The group moved synthetic drugs from Spain to Algeria, then used the return journey to smuggle migrants and weapons. Europol shared video from the operation, including of police dogs searching cars.

Some of the items seized included 18 high-speed vessels valued at €5m (£4.2m), guns, more than €25,000 (£21,400) in cash and 15,000 MDMA pills. The sting, led by Spanish police, involved searches in 17 locations in Spain, including Alicante, Almería, Cartagena and Murcia. Europol said the group had evolved from drug trafficking into a dual-flow criminal enterprise designed to maximise profits, with outbound routes from Spain and Portugal to Algeria. The smuggling focused on synthetic drugs such as MDMA, firearms, and explosives.