Spanish authorities have broken up a Moroccan gang that used powerful jet skis to smuggle migrants across the Strait of Gibraltar.
The trips took half an hour and cost 4,000 euros (£3,494).
Police say each jet ski carried between one and three migrants and a skipper over the less than 10 miles from Morocco to Spain.
From Morocco to Spain on jet skis : €4000 to cross the 14 km between Europe and Africa on a jet ski. Europol supports @policia and @guardiacivil in a successful operation against #MigrantSmuggling https://t.co/lt4yHvnSgl #migrationEU pic.twitter.com/Ay2NZIg9PT
— Europol (@Europol) April 26, 2018
The overall total of migrants crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Africa, the number arriving on jet skis is relatively small, but their use has increased sharply.
Spain’s Guardia Civil and National Police, along with Europol, said the gang also used jet skis to smuggle cannabis.
Officials said the trafficked migrants either stayed in Spain or moved on to France or Italy.
