Madrid, August 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Spain has warned Italy that it may take “proportional measures” if Rome does not lift border controls affecting travellers from Spain by Sunday, escalating a diplomatic dispute between the two European Union nations.
The warning came after Italy temporarily suspended the Schengen agreement arrangements with Spain, restoring checks for certain travellers following the large-scale arrival of migrants in Ceuta last week.
Following a video conference chaired by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez with senior ministers to review the situation in Ceuta, the Spanish government urged Italy to withdraw the restrictions on movement of travellers from Spain.
According to Italian news agency Adnkronos, Madrid described Italy’s move as “unjust, contrary to EU interests and discriminatory against the Spanish population”.
A statement issued by the Spanish government said, “We urge the Italian Government to rectify, to end the controls and to treat Spaniards like the rest of European citizens. If it does not do so before Sunday, August 9, Spain will be obliged to adopt proportional measures to protect the interests and dignity of its citizens.”
Meanwhile, Spanish authorities announced the dismantling of what they described as one of the largest migrant trafficking networks operating across the Mediterranean. Police arrested 78 people and seized 18 high-speed boats during the operation.
According to Spanish police, the network allegedly used the boats to transport synthetic drugs, including ecstasy, from Spain to Algeria and later used the return journeys to smuggle migrants to Spain’s Mediterranean coast and Ibiza.
Investigators believe the group carried out at least 64 migrant trafficking operations, bringing more than 2,000 people into Spain and generating over 24 million euros in illegal earnings.
Police described the sea journeys as extremely dangerous, with migrants allegedly transported in overcrowded boats at high speed through rough waters. In some cases, passengers were reportedly tied up to prevent them from falling overboard.
Authorities said the organisation charged up to 12,000 euros per person, with some crossings carrying nearly 50 migrants at a time.
Among those arrested are four alleged leaders of the network. The seized boats were valued at more than five million euros.
The operation was carried out with assistance from Europol and police agencies from France, Portugal and Poland.
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