WATCH: Immigrant child kidnapping ring in south of Spain smashed

POLICE have broken up a criminal network which kidnapped immigrant children.

According to police the gang smuggled unaccompanied minors into Spain in exchange for money, usually bringing them in clandestinely on rubber dinghies from North Africa.

Desmantelada una red que secuestraba a MENAs. Pedían a sus familiares en #Marruecos 500 euros para su liberación, amenazándoles con matar a los chicos o utilizar sus órganos para el tráfico ilegal en caso de no acceder a sus exigencias.
Más info:https://t.co/9iXCUouJF8 pic.twitter.com/EcME3qnBhI

— Policía Nacional (@policia) April 11, 2019

If they managed to get the youngsters into the country without being detected by law enforcement they handed them over to other gang members.

If they ended up in centres for immigrant minors in Cadiz, the criminal organisation got them out as soon as possible, taking them to properties in La Mojonera in Almeria where they held them prisoner until their families in Morocco handed over the equivalent of €500.

The gang even threatened to kill the children or take their organs for illegal trafficking if the families did not stump up the money.

Police said the network would also grab underage children trafficked by other gangs.

The operation led to six arrests, four in Almeria, one in Cadiz, one in La Linea de la Concepcion and another in Jerez de la Frontera.