Chinese human trafficking ring busted in Europe

Spain's government says a joint investigation by Spanish and French police has busted a gang that allegedly was smuggling Chinese citizens into Britain and the United States.

The interior ministry said 75 people have been arrested, 51 in Spain and 24 in France, including the two Barcelona-based suspected heads of the organisation in Europe.

The gang allegedly charged up to €50,000 to transport Chinese nationals to the US, Britain, Spain, France, Greece, Italy and Turkey.

Some of the people trafficked ended up in the sex trade, the ministry says.

The gang’s main European hub was Barcelona airport. It allegedly used the northeastern city as a stopping-off point for Chinese while false documents were prepared.

AP