Network smuggling migrants between Spain and France busted in Marseille

Europol supported the French National Police (Police Nationale/OLTIM) and the Spanish National Police (Policía Nacional) in dismantling an organised criminal network smuggling migrants from Spain to France.

The investigation was initiated in November 2022 and targeted individuals, based in Marseille, suspected of smuggling migrants between Spain and France. Europol’s analysis of the operational data made it possible to identify additional suspects linked to this criminal organisation and further advance the case.

The action day on 16 March 2025 led to:

• 19 arrests
• 17 house searches
• Seizures including a semi-rigid boat, 4 vehicles and about EUR 20 000 in cash

Over 1 700 migrants smuggled in nearly 500 operations

Migrants were picked up near train stations in Catalonia, Spain and then transported to the French city of Marseille. Each member of the criminal network had a specific task. Some recruited migrants, others arranged transport and some provided temporary accommodation. During car smuggling operations, the criminal network used forerunner vehicles to detect potential law enforcement checkpoints along the route to help them bypass police or customs controls.

The smuggling network operated in a structured way to prepare and execute the smuggling activities. The criminal network charged between EUR 150 and EUR 250 per migrant, depending on the departure point and destination. The suspects smuggled migrants from the Maghreb region, but also from the Middle East, mainly from Syria and from Sub-Saharan Africa. Between May 2023 and August 2024, more than 500 smuggling operations were organised with an estimated turnover of between EUR 250 000 and EUR 427 000 from about 1 700 migrants transported to France.

Europol facilitated the exchange of information and provided operational coordination and analytical support. During the action day, Europol deployed an expert to France to enable the real-time exchange of information and cross-check operational information against Europol’s databases to provide leads to investigators in the field.