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Dozens of
suspected people-traffickers have been arrested in Spain and France, suspected
of smuggling Chinese migrants into Europe and US, police have said.
The main
bosses of the organisation, which was reportedly based in Barcelona, were among
those arrested.
Some 81
fake passports from countries around Asia were seized.
Police said
the gang charged more than 40,000 euros (£34,000; $53,000) for each person,
most of whom would end up in the UK or the US.
The gang
would give the immigrants instructions on how to avoid being noticed at
borders, including attempting to blend in with groups of tourists.
The Spanish
police, which launched the investigation two years ago, said 51 people had been
detained in Spain and another 24 in France.
The force
said some of the group's activities had opened up the immigrants to sexual
exploitation.
Images
released by the police showed seized passports, cash and what appeared to be a
handgun.
The BBC's
world affairs correspondent Mike Wooldridge says the EU and US have recognised
that human-trafficking in and through Spain is an increasing problem.
But he says
Spain has been taking action, particularly with protecting children and women.
Among their
recent successes, Spanish police uncovered two prostitution rings in Madrid in
March that were being run by Romanians.
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