Police in Algeria are cracking down on an international network smuggling migrants to Europe

Algerian authorities have busted an international network of migrant smugglers to Europe via Algeria, local media reported on Wednesday (March 22nd).

Fifteen members of this network, nine Syrians and six Algerians, were arrested by the Central Office for the Fight against Organized Crime (SCLCO) and presented in court on Wednesday.

The investigation, which lasted almost 5 months, allowed the Algerian police to find traces of a network that transported migrants from Syria and Lebanon to Benghazi airport in Libya, Ennaharonline reported. .

excessive amounts

According to this media, the migrants are taken by road to the Libyan city of Gadames, from where they are smuggled into Algeria via the border town of Debbie, following winding desert tracks.

After that, members of this network ensured the transport of migrants to Oran, a large metropolis in western Algeria, a regrouping point for candidates for clandestine passage to Europe, Ennaharonline reported. Migrants had to pay money “excessive” in foreign currency to get to Europe.

During this operation, the police seized more than 11,000 dollars, 8,920 euros, as well as Lebanese and Syrian pounds.