Seven people have so far been arrested — six in Alicante and one in Marseille, France — on suspicion of offences including facilitating irregular migration, membership of a criminal organisation, smuggling and property-related crimes.
Murcia, 2 June 2026.
The Guardia Civil and the National Police, working in cooperation with Europol and the French National Police, have dismantled an alleged criminal network suspected of facilitating the irregular entry of non-EU nationals into Spain, mainly Algerian citizens, through the coasts of Alicante, Murcia and Almería.
The operation, named “Barón-Galón”, has so far resulted in the arrest of seven people suspected of offences against the rights of foreign citizens, membership of a criminal organisation, smuggling and property-related crimes, among others.
Three house searches have been carried out — two in Alicante city and one in Santa Pola — during which officers seized documentation, cash and several mobile phones believed to be linked to the criminal network.
The investigation began in mid-2025, when Guardia Civil and National Police officers began tracking several Algerian nationals who were allegedly providing the logistics and personnel needed to bring compatriots into Spain illegally via the Alicante, Murcia and Almería coastlines.
According to investigators, the suspects were based in Alicante province and coordinated their activities with the ultimate aim of bringing people into Spanish territory through illegal channels.
The organisation’s main method was the use of so-called “taxi boats”: semi-rigid vessels fitted with powerful engines and used to transport migrants across the Mediterranean.
Investigators found that some of the vessels had allegedly been obtained illegally. Several had reportedly been stolen in Spain and France, while others had been acquired using false documentation or through rental agreements.
The criminal network is also believed to have had members dedicated to logistical support, including supplying fuel, arranging accommodation and transporting the boat operators. The group allegedly monitored ports to identify and steal suitable vessels, while also selecting and watching “safe” landing points for the boats.
Police also detected international links, mainly in France, connected to the acquisition of boats and vehicles later used in Spain.
Due to the transnational nature of the suspected organisation, coordination between Spanish law enforcement agencies and European police forces, through Europol, was required to exchange information and advance the investigation.
During the operational phase, investigators identified and arrested seven men of Algerian and Libyan nationality, aged between 25 and 40. Six were arrested in Alicante province and the seventh in Marseille, France.
The investigation remains open.
