Police warn on illegal networks

Police say they are determined to crackdown on an increase in human trafficking in the Canary Islands.

In 2011, 69 illegal immigration networks involving either cheap labour or sexual exploitation were dismantled. This led to the arrest of 147 people, 23% more than the previous year.

The figures were released by the Director General of Police, Ignacio Cosidó at the inauguration of the new chief of police in the Canary Islands, Valentin Solano. In his speech, he stressed the archipelago was at the forefront of the fight against illegal immigration and tough action was winning the day. In 2006, there were 32,000 arrests. In 2011, there were 340.

Chief Cosidó said the police would do everything within their power to reduce “by all means” networks which violated people’s human rights.

Both Solano and Cosidó said their goal was to improve the safety of citizens who lived on the islands and the millions of tourists.