An international operation targeting migrant smuggling networks operating in the Mediterranean and along the West African Atlantic coast has led to the arrest of 262 suspects, the identification of 41 organized crime groups, and the initiation of 434 new investigations, according to an Interpol statement received by APA on Tuesday.
The operation, codenamed “Communis Maris” and conducted from October 5 to 8, 2026, also resulted in the detection of 1,715 migrants in an irregular situation and the identification of 109 potential victims of human trafficking.
Among those arrested, 221 are suspected of migrant smuggling, 16 of human trafficking, and 25 of other offenses, including the creation and use of forged documents.
The operation mobilised 7,660 law enforcement and border management officials from 16 countries across North and West Africa, Southern Europe, and the Middle East.
More than 378,000 individuals were screened during this intervention, which was coordinated by Interpol with support from Europol, Frontex, Afripol, the International Organization for Migration (IOM), and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).
In Senegal, the authorities alerted their Mauritanian counterparts to the departure of a vessel from Senegalese territorial waters.
The boat was intercepted the following day in Mauritania, carrying 80 passengers, including two children. Three alleged organisers were arrested.
In another instance, Moroccan authorities intercepted a vessel carrying 70 would-be migrants – including 30 minors – who had spent six days at sea.
In Libya, security forces rescued 34 potential victims of human trafficking and arrested three individuals suspected of belonging to a criminal network involved in migrant smuggling, human trafficking, and extortion.
Investigations also uncovered networks producing forged travel documents, illicit financial channels, and social media accounts that promoted irregular migration.
In total, 210,594 queries were run against Interpol databases during the operation, which spanned Algeria, Cyprus, France, The Gambia, Greece, Italy, Libya, Malta, Mauritania, Morocco, Portugal, Senegal, Spain, Syria, Tunisia, and Turkey.
In Senegal, this operation comes amid an increase in interventions targeting irregular migration networks. On November 8, the National Division for Combating Migrant Smuggling (DNLT) announced the dismantling of networks in Ziguinchor and Thies, resulting in 17 arrests and the provision of assistance to 114 would-be migrants.
Specifically, an attempt by 175 people to depart for Spain was uncovered, with each individual having been charged between 400,000 and 500,000 CFA francs.
On October 23, 378 would-be migrants were also apprehended over the course of three days in the Fatick region.
Those operations led to the seizure of pirogues (traditional boats), outboard motors, and 5,800 litres of fuel. However, the pressure exerted on smuggling networks has not prevented the reconfiguration of migration routes.
On October 20, 171 migrants were rescued after their vessel ran aground at Pilote Bar, in the Gandiol area of Senegal. Among them were 37 Senegalese and 114 Gambian nationals. The boat had departed from The Gambia, bound for Spain.
Operation Communis Maris, funded by the European Union as part of the Himaya project, is expected to provide new leads for investigation and lead to further arrests in the coming months.
AC/fss/gik/APA