Police

Gang branded an ‘important criminal organisation’ by Spanish police, who co-operated with the UK’s National Crime Agency in the operation. An Albanian organised crime ring involved in smuggling migrants to the UK via Spain has been dismantled. The network facilitated journeys of mainly Albanian migrants, smuggling them through the northern Spanish cities of Bilbao and Santander into the UK using ferries and freight shipping routes to Portsmouth, Southampton and Liverpool. The migrants were believed to have come directly from Albania to Spain for onward travel, but were also recruited from camps located around Spanish ports facilities. Described by Spanish prosecutors as high level and well organised, the criminal gang would provide migrants with accommodation and food until they succ...