Ceuta: Spanish police arrest 5 alleged migrant traffickers

Spanish authorities have made five arrests in connection with the alleged trafficking of migrants from Ceuta, a Spanish North African exclave, to the mainland, according to officials. The suspects were apprehended in two investigations, one in Ceuta and another in La Linea de la Concepcion, Andalusia, a region bordering Gibraltar. Prosecutors claim the traffickers charged migrants up to €9,000 ($10,500) for their transport.

The alleged network reportedly picked up undocumented migrants in Ceuta, sheltered them in residences or garages, and then smuggled them across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain using small boats. These vessels, driven by experienced boat drivers, were often overcrowded, sometimes carrying seven people in a dinghy only 5 meters long and 2 meters wide. In one incident, the boat ran out of fuel and drifted in the Strait for five hours before rescue.

The incident has reignited discussions about migration across Europe, with Italy briefly suspending Schengen border-free travel with Spain and Spain responding by imposing border controls from Italy. Ceuta, which saw a deadly border rush in late July with over 70,000 migrants entering irregularly, causing the deaths of dozens, is currently hosting thousands of migrants. The Spanish government plans to open temporary centers to alleviate the overcrowding in Ceuta's shelters.