A major smuggling network operating in the Western Mediterranean has been dismantled following a joint operation in Spain that led to 78 arrests, according to Europol. The operation was conducted under a newly established Europol taskforce within Europol’s European Centre Against Migrant Smuggling. Officers from the French National Police (including Police aux Frontières/OLTIM) and the Spanish National Police (Comisaría General de Extranjería y Fronteras/UCRIF) took part, along with the Guardia Civil. Europol said the case also received support from the Portuguese Judicial Police (Policía Judiciaria) and the Polish Border Guard (BG). The cooperation brought together the different national units under the Europol framework for work linked to migrant smuggling. The individuals arrested are alleged to have been involved in the smuggling network targeted by the operation. An arrest does not mean a person is guilty. Based on the information provided by Europol, authorities did not publish additional details in this material about how the network operated, what routes were used, or what specific evidence was collected. The report also does not set out any charges, legal outcomes, or sentences. The case is presented as a significant international enforcement action involving multiple EU law-enforcement bodies coordinated through Europol.