Following the deaths of two persons in a traffic accident on the La Manga del Mar Menor highway, National Police agents, working in tandem with the Civil Guard, have eliminated a criminal organisation that specialises in migrant trafficking.

Two persons were killed and eleven injured in the November 16th tragedy, which happened when a car blocking the road with a caravan that was towing a boat caused seven vehicles to collide.

17 persons have been taken into custody by agents on suspicion of belonging to a group that uses fast boats to encourage illegal immigration. Two cars, including the one involved in the fatal collision, two weapons, cell phones, beacons, and drugs were seized as a consequence of three searches conducted in Molina del Segura (Murcia), Elche, and Rojales.

The inquiry started on October 6th with the seizure of a rubber boat with a 150 HP engine and the arrest of three individuals by Civil Guard agents near kilometre 10 of the La Manga del Mar Menor road. A GPS, a satellite phone, 14 30-liter petrol canisters, bags, equipment, clothing and food were all confiscated from the boat.

Since then, the National Police and Civil Guard have been conducting a joint investigation, which has led to the discovery of a criminal organisation that reportedly planned to launch a small boat in the region.

Advertisement

Two British individuals lost their lives in a deadly accident.

An accident on the RM-12 route (El Algar-La Manga del Mar Menor), which runs through the municipality of Cabo de Palos-Cartagena, was reported to the Civil Guard one month later on November 16. When the authorities got there, they saw a number of automobiles colliding with an inflatable boat, resulting in a multiple accident. It appears that the accident happened when a car carrying a boat blocked the road with a trailer, causing seven automobiles to collide. Two British nationals, ages 49 and 57, were killed in the accident, and eleven others suffered injuries of various degrees.

The investigation’s main goal was to dismantle a suspected criminal network that was involved in the transportation of people and drugs across the Strait of Gibraltar after it was established that the vessel was a 10-meter inflatable boat with two 300 HP motors.

The brand and model of the car that was carrying the boat on the day of the collision, the location where it might have been concealed, and the driver’s name were all determined by investigators following multiple police investigations. The agents also found a number of residences connected to the criminal organisation they were investigating and were able to identify a number of individuals.

For the purpose of trafficking migrants, they employed swift boats with strong engines.
Although the structural damage was compatible with the accident, the inquiry found that the suspects had altered the registration number of the car used to transport the boat that resulted in the deadly collision on the La Manga road. The officers also discovered an electrical system that prevented the car’s front and back lights from turning on at the same time, allowing the driver to evade potential police monitoring.

According to agents, the disbanded organization’s primary activity was human trafficking, which involved moving people from North Africa to the Spanish coast via fast boats. Furthermore, they equipped themselves with stolen automobiles that they had fabricated license plates and paperwork for. They may make up to two journeys a day thanks to this innovative method of operation, which involves using high-quality boats (Phantom type) with powerful engines that cut the travel duration to about four or five hours.

Advertisement

In addition, the network was well-structured, with members clearly delineating their responsibilities. Some of them served as front men to give the boats the appearance of legality, while others were devoted to the preparation of the boats as well as the protection and custody of the pateras.

Three searches and 17 arrests were made in Molina de Segura (Murcia), Elche, and Rojales.
Ultimately, a sizable police force was used to carry out the operation on February 25th by operatives from the Civil Guard and the National Police.

17 people were taken into custody by the officers on suspicion of homicide, injuries, traffic safety violations, damage, abandoning the scene of an accident, illegal gun possession, drug trafficking, smuggling, document falsification, violating the rights of foreign nationals (by aiding illegal immigration), and membership in a criminal organisation.

Additionally, two cars, including the one that caused the deadly accident, a shotgun, a handgun, and ammunition were found during searches conducted in three homes in Molina de Segura (Murcia), Elche, and Rojales (Alicante). In addition, they confiscated almost 3,000 euros, 15 cell phones, beacons, various amounts of hashish and cocaine, and precision scales.

Advertisement