Spanish police dismantle major Mediterranean smuggling network, arrest 78

MADRID — Spanish police said they have dismantled one of the largest criminal networks linked to Mediterranean migration smuggling, arresting 78 people and seizing 18 speedboats. In a written statement, the force said the organization transported drugs produced in Spain and Algeria, including ecstasy, on the speedboats, then used the same vessels on return trips to carry migrants to Spain's coast and the island of Ibiza. The investigation found that the group was involved in at least 64 smuggling operations, earning approximately $28 million while transporting more than 2,000 people to Spain, according to the police statement. The network had reportedly built a dedicated logistics chain that combined narcotics distribution with migrant transport, allowing it to use the same boats and routes for both criminal activities. Spanish police said the operation broke up the organization's main structure and confiscated the boats used for drug and migrant smuggling. No further details on additional searches, pending charges or cross-border cooperation were immediately available.