People smuggling

Trafficking gang smuggling Iranians to Britain caught in Europe

 European authorities have smashed a human trafficking gang smuggling Iranians, some as young as five, into Britain, making more than 100 arrests, the European police agency Europol said on Thursday.

Europol said the criminal network, operating from the southern Spanish city of Malaga, was charging migrants about 25,000 euros ($30,000) for fake Spanish passports, flights, transfers and accommodation.

After a year long investigation, Spanish police arrested 14 members of the group in Malaga and another 42 people accused of selling their Spanish documents to the gang.

Europol said another 44 Iranian citizens were intercepted at different European airports carrying forged passports while the leader of the group was arrested at London's Heathrow airport trying to take a flight to Brazil.