The National Police has dismantled a criminal organization accused of human trafficking and document falsification. The operation ended with seven detainees and the release of 17 people who were traveling to Barcelona, ??police sources report.
The modus operandi consisted of taking people from different regions of Europe with their final destination to the Catalan capital. The victims belonged to third countries, violating the legislation on the transit of foreigners. The people, in an irregular situation, left their place of origin two months before their arrival in Spain and made an itinerary through different countries in Europe.
The final transfer to Barcelona was carried out in a van, where they lived in zero sanitary conditions and made trips of more than 18 hours without being able to leave the cabin.
The victims had to pay between 10,000 and 12,000 euros to reach Spain. The criminal organization guarded them in safe apartments until they paid their debt.
The investigation began in July 2023, when authorities identified a van with 11 people inside in the town of Sant Adrià del Besòs.
The criminal organization had a fleet of eight vans and a structured hierarchy divided between recruitment, transfer and reception personnel.
