Spanish Police Dismantles International Network for Smuggling Minors to France

Spanish police announced on Thursday the dismantling of an international network involved in smuggling minors from the Canary Islands to France, in a large-scale security operation that included areas of Lanzarote, Madrid, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, resulting in the arrest of 11 individuals.

The police clarified that four of the suspects were placed in preventive detention on charges including organized crime, document forgery, and exploiting children in pornography.

The investigations came after the disappearance of 14 minors from state centers in the Canary Islands between late 2024 and mid-2025. The police confirmed that the network exploited its connections and routes in Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Spain to transport children, providing them with forged documents to smuggle them into France.

The security operation included raiding two homes in Lanzarote, where authorities seized personal documents, electronic devices, and cash. Investigators continue their work to locate the missing minors and uncover the international links of the gang.

A criminal law specialist described the operation as a "significant blow to transnational crime," noting that its success reflects the importance of international cooperation in combating child trafficking networks and protecting minors.