MOSCOW, November 25 (Sputnik) – Spanish National Police has uncovered an international criminal network comprising 18 people, who illegally transferred Syrian and Iraqi citizens to Spain and other European countries, a statement on the police official website said Tuesday.
According to the statement, 16 people were detained in Madrid and another two in the town of Alcorcon, southwest of the Spanish capital. Among them are Lebanese, Syrians, Ecuadorian, Moroccan, Ukrainian and four Spaniards.
Police say the group charged six to ten thousand euros ($7,4 thousand to $12,4 thousand) for each transfer. Illegal migrants reached Spain through Asia, as well as Brazil, Peru, Venezuela, using forged documents. A Lebanese member of the gang met migrants at the airport and took them to various Spanish regions or other European countries, primarily to Germany and France.
Recently, the group managed the transfer of Iraqis to Europe.
During detentions and searches in Madrid and Alcorcon 70 fake documents and more than 7,000 euros in cash were found.