Jun 19 - Officers Uncover Human Trafficking Mafia Operating In Spain
Officers from the Royal Gibraltar Police and Borders & Coastguard Agency have uncovered a human trafficking mafia operating in the Costa Del Sol.
The criminal group was engaged in human trafficking by employing fraudulent methods to mislead immigration officials in Spain, Gibraltar and UK.
Around a month ago the Gibraltar agencies detected two Albanian nationals bearing false identification documents who were intending to travel to the UK from Gibraltar International Airport.
They were arrested and are currently on remand at HMP Windmill Hill awaiting deportation. These arrests sparked off an investigation which led to the identification of a third individual suspected to be a facilitator and important member of the criminal group.
A process of information exchange, surveillance and close liaison thus began with the ‘Cuerpo Nacional de Policia, Seccion de Extrangeria’ (Spain’s national police with responsibility for Immigration).
Another two Albanian subjects were detected in separate instances by RGP/BCA officers a few days later bearing similar false identification documents and trying to use Gibraltar as a platform to reach the UK.
On Wednesday 17th June 2015, following a lengthy and co-ordinated surveillance operation a further two Albanian nationals were intercepted and have been arrested by the Spanish Police after their plans to board a plane in Gibraltar to the UK were foiled. The facilitator, a German national of Rumanian origin and who was identified in the first instance by the Gibraltar authorities was also arrested.
Acting Commissioner of Police Ian McGrail has praised the efforts employed by the RGP/BCA officers saying “what a great example of cross border police co-operation this has been – criminals have no borders and the only way to fight this sort of organised crime is to work together. The RGP and BCA partnership is reaping benefits and no doubt will keep growing with the passage of time”.
For his part the BCA Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bonfante echoed the words of the RGP acting Commissioner and also added: “We are committed to keeping Gibraltar as safe a place as possible by controlling our entry points but it is also important to recognise how we also contribute to towards the bigger international crime picture and this joint operation serves to highlight our capability and effectiveness when working with law enforcement bodies abroad.”
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