PRESS REPORTS PROGRESS IN BREAKING UP TRAFFICKING

UNCLAS MADRID 004093 SIPDIS E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: PHUM PREL SP SUBJECT: PRESS REPORTS PROGRESS IN BREAKING UP TRAFFICKING IN PERSONS NETWORKS The Spanish daily ABC reported September 18 that the Spanish National Police have dismantled one hundred illegal immigration, document falsification, and prostitution networks during 2004. Additionally, more than 300 people have been arrested during the year by the Immigration Network and False Documents Group within the National Police. Arrests stopped or hindered human trafficking criminal networks run by Eastern Europeans, primarily led by Romanians but also by Albanians; South American networks run by Ecuadorians, Peruvians, and Colombians; and Asian networks, where the Chinese "mafia" is reportedly dominant. The Spanish National Police broke up 70 criminal networks and made 200 arrests during 2003. In 2004, the police are on pace to arrest greater numbers of human traffickers according to press reporting. The ABC report provides further possible insights into human trafficking issues, which we will investigate with GOS authorities in our discussions on TIP. ARGYROS