Story thread · 25 reports / 12 sources

How drugs and people became interchangeable for Europe's smuggling gangs

thenationalnews.com · 10dShare

Criminal gangs are increasingly switching between drugs and people along smuggling routes to Europe, a senior police official at Europol’s anti-migrant smuggling task force has told The National . The unit recently helped France and Spain after a two-year investigation to bust an Algerian criminal gang that made up to €24 million by smuggling migrants from Algeria. “We are talking about polycriminal organisations,” said Alina Arucsandei, team leader at Europol’s European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling. “We've had situations where, using the same infrastructure, criminal organisations moved irregular migrants into the EU and then on the reverse route moved drugs into African countries. It's a very clear reflection of the criminals' adaptability and constant reach for profits.” Growing numbers Migration has become a focal point in European politics . National leaders have toughened asylum rules and invested in combating undocumented arrivals. While arrivals have dropped by more than on

First report: French police deployed to disrupt mega dinghies as Burnham and Macron meet — standard.co.uk, 12d