Spanish police have ended a major operation by dismantling an organized criminal network that was trafficking unaccompanied migrant children from the Canary Islands to France. Eleven people were arrested during the operation.

The Network's Modus Operandi

According to a statement from the national police published on Thursday, November 13, 2025, the criminal organization was well-structured and had international links:

1. Logistics in Morocco: The network used logistical resources in Morocco for the initial transfer of minors to the Spanish archipelago of the Canary Islands.
2. Document forgery in Ivory Coast: Contacts in Ivory Coast were involved in sending forged documents. These false papers were then used to obtain identities for young people, allowing them to be illegally taken to France.

Investigation Launched and Arrests

The investigation was launched following the disappearance of 14 minors between November 2024 and May 2025, while they were housed in two reception centers located in Lanzarote and Gran Canaria.

Over the months, officers made a key arrest: a Mauritanian national was intercepted attempting to board a flight to Madrid with three minors, without the required authorization from their care center. A young woman, initially considered a minor, turned out to be an adult and was also arrested.

Summary of the operation:

1. A total of 11 people were arrested (nine in Lanzarote, one in Gran Canaria and one in Madrid).
2. Four of the individuals arrested have been placed in pre-trial detention.
3. The charges include membership in a criminal organization, forgery, illegal human trafficking, and child pornography .

Two searches were carried out in homes in Lanzarote, resulting in the seizure of numerous documents, electronic devices and cash.

Migration Context

Although the statement did not specify the ultimate purpose of sending these minors to France, the authorities indicated that the investigation would remain open until all the missing minors were found.

Spain remains a major entry point for migration into Europe (along with Italy and Greece). The Canary Islands, located off the northwest coast of Africa, are a crucial access route. The archipelago recorded a record number of arrivals last year (nearly 47,000 migrants), although the figures are significantly lower this year.