SPAIN’S GOVERNMENT SAYS a joint investigation by Spanish and French police has busted a gang that allegedly was smuggling Chinese citizens into Europe and the United States.

The Interior Ministry said today that 75 people have been arrested, 51 in Spain and 24 in France, including the two Barcelona-based suspected heads of the organisation in Europe.

A police officer displays visa stamps found during the raid. Pic: AP Photo/Spanish Police

The gang allegedly charged up to €50,000 ($66,700) to transport Chinese nationals to the US, Britain, Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Turkey.

Some of the people trafficked ended up in the sex trade, the ministry says.

A police officer shows passports, stamps, a gun, right partly seen, Ids, printers and mobile phones found after member of gang allegedly dedicated to smuggling Chinese citizens into Europe and the USA were arrested by police in Barcelona. Pic: AP Photo/Spanish Police

The gang’s main European hub was Barcelona airport.

It allegedly used the northeastern city as a stopping-off point for Chinese while false documents were prepared.

Read: Extra Dáil sitting to pass laws against human trafficking>

Read: Trafficked worker in Ireland: I was threatened, confined and treated as a slave>

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