Police in Almería have detained twelve people in connection with trafficking in illegal immigrants.
The network, although based in Almería, had connections in other regions, namely Cataluña, Murcia and the Comunidad Valenciana.
The network would arrange for the recruitment of people in North Africa, including minors, and have them ferried over to Spain in pneumatic boats. Once in Spain, another section of the organisation would arrange false documentation, charging for the privilege of course. Costs varied from €150 – €300 for basic documentation to enable residency applications and from €800 – €1,000 for work permits through a number of local companies.
The detainees are all Spanish or Moroccan nationals.