Spanish and French authorities arrested eight people in separate investigations into networks accused of moving migrants from Ceuta to mainland Spain and from Alicante to France.
Spanish National Police announced Friday that five people had been arrested in two investigations targeting boat crossings from Ceuta across the Strait of Gibraltar.
Four suspects, two arrested in Ceuta and two in La Línea de la Concepción, allegedly belonged to a network that charged about €9,000 per passenger. Intermediaries recruited migrants, including people who entered Ceuta during the mass crossings of July 30, before hiding them in homes and garages, according to police information reported by RTVE.
The group allegedly hired pilots experienced in high-speed navigation and evasive maneuvers to avoid police controls.
A fifth suspect was remanded in custody over a separate August 14 crossing involving seven migrants. Each passenger allegedly paid €8,000 for the five-hour journey in a five-meter boat without life jackets or signaling equipment. The vessel ran out of fuel after traveling about 40 kilometers and was found near La Línea.
In another joint Spanish-French investigation, three people were arrested over more than 20 suspected transfers from Alicante to France through the La Jonquera-Le Perthus crossing. Two were remanded in custody.
The network allegedly transported five or six migrants per vehicle and charged about €200 per passenger, generating an estimated €100,000, El País reported.
French authorities arrested the principal suspect while he was transporting migrants. A subsequent search in Alicante recovered €3,190 in cash and vehicle documents.
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