The National Crime Agency has busted up an Albanian people smuggling ring after a lengthy investigation and several arrests. According to the NCA, the gang was smuggling Albanian migrants from northern Spain into the UK via ferries and shipping freighters.
People were transported from Bilbao and Santander to the UK ports of Southampton, Portsmouth, and Liverpool.
The National Crime Agency Dismantles Albanian People Smuggling Ring That Smuggled Migrants from Northern Spain into the UK
In order to get to the United Kingdom it is believed that migrants paid between €3,000 and €15,000—or over $2,912 and $14,562. Spain’s Guardia Civil worked with the NCA on this investigation and noted that the people-smuggling outfit was well-planned in that it provided food and lodging for the migrants before they were loaded up to be smuggled.
The NCA and Guardia Civil didn’t have an exact number for how many were smuggled over but have confirmed roughly 50 who made it across through the organization. After a year of investigation, the team managed to identify and apprehend the ring leaders.
They are described as two Albanian men who lived in Albania but just so happened to be in Spain at the time of their arrest. In total, seven were rounded up in the busts.
In addition, authorities seized computers, identification, passports, credit cards, and anything else that could be tied to the ring. NCA International Regional Manager Steve Reynolds said of the operation:
“Working closely with our Spanish counterparts, we have been able to dismantle their operation and prevent further lives being put at risk. This operation demonstrates how the NCA is determined to take action against people smugglers at every step of the route towards the UK, including upstream in transit countries like Spain.”
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