Spain arrests key suspect in Morocco-linked human trafficking ring

A Moroccan national wanted for human trafficking has been arrested in northern Spain following an international warrant issued by Moroccan authorities, according to Yabiladi via Spanish media site elDiario on June 25th.

The man, suspected of being part of a criminal network facilitating irregular migration within Morocco, was detained by the Spanish National Police on June 9th in the town of Pola de Siero, Asturias.

Following his arrest, he was transferred to Madrid and placed at the disposal of the Fourth Investigative Chamber of Spain’s National Court. The arrest operation was conducted discreetly, with the details made public only on June 25th.

Moroccan authorities had alerted their Spanish counterparts about the suspect’s alleged role in an organized trafficking ring. After locating him through a joint investigation, the Spanish court ordered his preventive detention while extradition proceedings move forward.

Police in Asturias said the arrest reflects ongoing cooperation between Spain and Morocco under existing judicial agreements. The two countries have partnered to crack down on crime on many previous occasions.

On May 13th, eight suspects connected to a Morocco-linked drug smuggling and money laundering network were arrested in raids across the southern Spanish cities of Malaga and Melilla. According to Yabiladi , authorities said this takedown severely hindered one of the region’s most active smuggling networks.

This comes after an April meeting between Morocco’s security chief and Spain’s new Civil Guard intelligence head in Rabat, according to the Moroccan government-friendly Atalayar. Abdellatif Hammouchi and Luis Baliz Piñero discussed strengthening security cooperation between the two nations, with a focus on terrorism and organised crime.

Yabiladi, elDiario, Atalayar