Canary Islands Child Trafficking Ring Dismantled, 11 Arrested

In a major crackdown on child trafficking, Spanish police have dismantled an international crime ring accused of exploiting vulnerable minors from the Canary Islands. The investigation, which spanned Lanzarote, Madrid, and Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, has led to the arrest of 11 suspects.

According to the police statement, four of the accused have been placed in pre-trial detention on charges related to organized crime, document forgery, and child pornography. The probe was triggered by the disappearance of 14 minors from state-run centers on the Canary Islands between late 2024 and mid-2025.

The criminal group allegedly used routes and contacts in Morocco, Ivory Coast, and Spain to move the children and provide them with fake documents for their transfer to France. Two homes were searched in Lanzarote, where officers seized personal documents, electronic devices, and cash.