Spanish-Serbian operation dismantles migrant smuggling ring, eight arrested

In a coordinated operation by Serbia’s Interior Ministry (MUP) and Spain’s National Police, with the support of Europol, an international migrant smuggling network was dismantled. The operation was carried out on May 27, with arrests in the Spanish cities of Malaga and Zamora.

According to investigators, the network exploited the visa-free travel regime between Cuba and Serbia, which had been in place until April 2023. The aim was to smuggle Cuban nationals to western Europe, primarily to Spain.

Modus operandi

According to the organized investigation, the network offered migrants a so-called “travel package” intended to give the appearance of legal travel. The package included:

• a plane ticket from Havana via third countries to Belgrade
• an invitation letter ostensibly for business or tourism purposes
• health insurance
• hotel reservations for the first few days

Cuban nationals, according to the investigation, most often flew from Havana to Belgrade via Frankfurt. After their arrival, the network would arrange further transport westward, with Spain as the ultimate destination. According to informal accounts from sources close to the investigation, at least 40 Cuban nationals were smuggled.

Prices and financial flows

The price for the full journey from Cuba to Spain was around 3,000 euros per person. Payments were made in several installments, with part paid to intermediaries in Havana and part on arrival at the destination.

Prosecutors allege the suspects are responsible for the offense of human smuggling committed in an organized group, punishable by at least 5 years’ imprisonment, as well as money laundering arising from the gain obtained.

The offense of human smuggling under Article 350 of the Criminal Code carries 1 to 8 years in its basic form. The organized form carries at least 5 years.

What comes next in the probe

Serbia’s Organized Crime Prosecutor’s Office is cooperating with competent Spanish authorities in exchanging case materials. Under standard procedure, evidence from abroad is recognized through mutual legal assistance.

According to informal accounts, several people suspected of helping to organize the travel are expected to be questioned in Serbia. The smuggling route from Cuba via Serbia to the EU has been the subject of several Europol security analyses in recent years.

The suspects are presumed innocent until proven guilty by a final court decision.

Will the operation extend to further arrests in Serbia in the coming days?