Spanish police arrest people smugglers from Vietnam

MADRID – The European police agency says Spanish authorities have arrested 37 people suspected of belonging to a Vietnamese people-smuggling ring that has earned an estimated 13 million euros ($14.8 million).

Europol said in a statement Thursday the gang charged each Vietnamese migrant 18,000 euros ($20,500) and smuggled them into the European Union via South America.

Each group of up to 12 migrants was guided by an English-speaking smuggler who facilitated their travel.

Spanish police conducted searches of 10 houses and more than 100 beauty salons across the country after learning that the smuggling operation was largely based in Barcelona.

The gang also furnished the migrants with counterfeit residency documents.