An international operation targeting criminal organisations involved in migrant smuggling across the Mediterranean Sea and the West African Atlantic route has resulted in 262 arrests and 434 new investigations, The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has said.
Operation Details
The four-day operation, known as "Operation Communis Maris", took place between October 5 and 8, bringing together law enforcement and border authorities from 16 countries. The operation identified 109 potential victims of human trafficking and detected 1,715 irregular migrants, the organisation added.
Of the 262 suspects arrested, 221 have been accused of migrant smuggling offences, 16 of human trafficking and 25 of other crimes, including the production and use of fraudulent documents.
International Collaboration
Led by INTERPOL with operational support from Europol, Frontex, AFRIPOL, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the operation aimed to "dismantle organised crime networks, identify smugglers, rescue people at risk and bring perpetrators to justice."
David Caunter, Director of Organised and Emerging Crime at INTERPOL, said: "The Mediterranean Sea is one of the world's deadliest migration corridors, claiming thousands of lives annually. Smugglers exploit vulnerable populations, often subjecting them to abuse, extortion and trafficking, as well as risking migrants' lives on overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels."
Caunter added: "INTERPOL is uniquely placed to facilitate cross-border collaboration so countries can identify criminals, dismantle their networks and supply chains, and ultimately save human lives."
Interceptions at Sea
During the four-day operation, participating countries intercepted several boats at sea. In southern Morocco, authorities stopped a vessel carrying around 70 people including 30 minors who had been at sea for six days.
In another case, Senegalese officials alerted neighbouring authorities to a vessel departing the country's territorial waters. The following day, authorities in Mauritania intercepted the wooden pirogue carrying 80 passengers, including two children, and arrested three suspected organisers.
In Libya, authorities rescued 34 potential victims of human trafficking and arrested three people suspected of involvement in an organised criminal group linked to human trafficking, migrant smuggling and extortion.
Broader Crackdown
In Algeria, six suspects were arrested suspected to be operating a migrant-smuggling network, with investigators also alleging that the group had endangered minors. In Syria, coordinated maritime patrols and surveillance led authorities to raid premises allegedly used by migrant smugglers. Seven suspects, including an alleged ringleader, were apprehended, while 22 irregular migrants were intercepted.
The crackdown extended beyond the sea with authorities targeting airport routes, forged travel documents and the financial networks believed to support smuggling operations.
"Operation Communis Maris" was financed by the European Union in the framework of Project Himaya. The participating countries were Algeria, Cyprus, France, the Gambia, Greece, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, Syria, Tunisia and Türkiye.
