Spain: Five Ceuta smugglers arrested

 

TT-AFP

 

Published 13.07 

 

A beach in the Spanish exclave of Ceuta after thousands of migrants who had made it there were left sleeping outside. The picture was taken on Thursday, in connection with the fact that many were taken to temporary accommodation. Photo: Antonio Sempere/AP/TTShow more

Five men accused of smuggling people into Spain from the Spanish exclave of Ceuta have been arrested, according to Spanish police.

Four of the men are suspected of being part of a network that brings migrants from North Africa to the European mainland for payment. Two were arrested in Ceuta and two in Andalusia on the other side.

The fifth man has been detained for bringing seven migrants across the sea in a small boat, for a payment of more than 80,000 kronor per person.

In late July, unrest erupted in Ceuta, as up to 72,000 people entered the territory from neighboring Morocco. Dozens of people lost their lives in the unrest. It sparked a new political debate on migration in the EU.

Most of the migrants have since returned to Morocco, but thousands remained and have been sleeping rough.