Huge migrant crisis crackdown as small boats seized at sea – 262 arrests

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An international operation targeting criminal organisations involved in migrant smuggling across the Mediterranean Sea and the West African Atlantic route has resulted in 262…

An international operation targeting criminal organisations involved in migrant smuggling across the Mediterranean Sea and the West African Atlantic route has resulted in 262 arrests and 434 new investigations, The International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) has said. The four-day operation, known as "Operation Communis Maris", took place between October 5 and 8, bringing together law enforcement and border authorities from 16 countries. The operation identified 109 potential victims of human trafficking and detected 1,715 irregular migrants, the organisation added.

Of the 262 suspects arrested, 221 have been accused of migrant smuggling offences, 16 of human trafficking and 25 of other crimes, including the production and use of fraudulent documents. Led by INTERPOL with operational support from Europol, Frontex, AFRIPOL, the International Organization for Migration and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the operation aimed to "dismantle organised crime networks, identify smugglers, rescue people at risk and bring perpetrators to justice."

David Caunter, Director of Organised and Emerging Crime at INTERPOL, said: "The Mediterranean Sea is one of the world’s deadliest migration corridors, claiming thousands of lives annually. Smugglers exploit vulnerable populations, often subjecting them to abuse, extortion and trafficking, as well as risking migrants' lives on overcrowded, unseaworthy vessels.

"INTERPOL is uniquely placed to facilitate cross-border collaboration so countries can identify criminals, dismantle their networks and supply chains, and ultimately save human lives." During the four-day operation, participating countries intercepted several boats at sea.

In southern Morocco, authorities stopped a vessel carrying around 70 people including 30 minors who had been at sea for six days. In another case, Senegalese officials alerted neighbouring authorities to a vessel departing the country’s territorial waters.

The following day, authorities in…

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