Spain: the police dismantles a network trafficking young migrants from sub-Saharan Africa.
The Spanish Civil Guard announced on Tuesday, August 11, the dismantling of a network in Gran Canaria that recruited unaccompanied minors from sub-Saharan Africa in care centers. Two victims were rescued and four other girls were prevented from leaving their center, while five people, including a minor, were arrested.
SUMMARY
According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, the network organized the exit of young migrants from protection structures in the Canary Islands before transferring them to mainland Spain and France. Some of them were reportedly subjected to sexual exploitation afterwards.
The suspects allegedly provided fake documents or stolen papers to facilitate travel. Five searches were conducted on the island of Gran Canaria as part of the operation, the Civil Guard specified.
The investigation began after a young migrant returned to Spain after being taken care of in Gran Canaria. The young woman told police she had been recruited under the promise of a job before being sent to France.
Investigators subsequently identified several similar cases. Young girls had left care centers without retrieving their documents, before their presence was detected on flights to mainland Spain. Spanish authorities suspect the network exploited their vulnerable situation.
Increased Pressure on Reception Facilities
The operation comes as Spanish authorities face significant pressure on facilities accommodating unaccompanied foreign minors, particularly in Ceuta. According to the Spanish government, around 72,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco into this North African enclave at the end of July, before about 70,000 of them returned.
As of Friday, approximately 1,342 unaccompanied minors were still in Ceuta, according to data provided by Spanish authorities. Some of them did not have a sustainable housing solution, with some sleeping on the streets.
The dismantling announced in Gran Canaria highlights the risks faced by young migrants placed under the protection of the authorities, especially when they leave centers unaccompanied. The Spanish judiciary will now need to determine the precise role of the arrested individuals and the extent of transfers organized to France and mainland Spain.
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