Operation MIYA: Spain’s Comprehensive Counter-Terrorism Success

In 2021, Spain’s General Commissariat of Information (CGI) began Operation MIYA to counter potential terrorist actions in the country. The first stage of the operation led to the detention of eight individuals across Europe and North Africa; notably, it contained a planned Islamic State attack in France.

The triumph of the initial phase prompted the second phase, concentrating on a broader network with connections traversing Europe, the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. Investigators found that the suspects, who belonged to the Islamic State support network, were funding their terrorist activities through criminal enterprises in Europe.

Lasting two and a half years, the investigation’s prolonged duration emphasised the complexity of the network and the challenges encountered in unravelling its intricacies. The recent phase, ending in December 2023, targeted and successfully jailed five individuals in Spain.

The network’s actions included planning terrorist attacks and funding Islamic State operatives through funds acquired from criminal activities in Europe, and the investigation revealed links to Afghanistan, the Middle East, Sahel, Maghreb, and Europe. The authorities confiscated cryptocurrencies worth almost €200.000, highlighting the network’s use of international financial channels.

Besides this, the Spanish National Police, along with the General Directorate of Security and Territory (DGST) of Morocco, executed a joint operation that resulted in the arrest of 9 jihadists in Melilla.

The MIYA operation’s victory is a significant result of Spain’s counterterrorism measures and reflects the efficacy of international cooperation. Comprehending the geopolitical context and regional dynamics is important in comprehending the implications of this counterterrorism function. Spain’s geographical closeness to North Africa, coupled with historical and cultural connections, makes it susceptible to terrorism threats originating from the region and the propagation of extremist ideologies.

The recent arrests underline the evolving nature of terrorist threats, with networks involved in radicalisation, fundraising via criminal activities, and active backing for planned attacks. Spanish collaboration with nations such as Morocco and Algeria underscores the strategic significance of regional alliances in combating transnational terrorist networks.

Islamic State’s usage of cryptocurrencies to fund its network unveils the terrorist organisations’ effective adaptation to modern financial technologies, posing challenges to standard tracking methods. The noticeable growth in counterterrorism operations in Spain, particularly those concerning the Islamic State, shows a persistent threat. The radicalisation of individuals within the government poses internal security challenges, necessitating constant vigilance and proactive steps to counter the ideological spread of extremism.

Regarding this matter, Spanish police forces captured an Arabic teacher in Madrid in December 2023, with the charge of compelling minors for the Islamic State. The incarcerated individual is an imam at a mosque in Madrid – Villaverde district – who manipulated his teaching role to radicalise young individuals, promoting the figure of the suicide terrorist in his speech.

The MIYA operation underscores the complexity of counterterrorism efforts, necessitating cooperation among different intelligence and security agencies. Spain’s intelligence capabilities, presented by 22 operations and 54 detentions in the current year alone, reflect a dedication to combating terrorism domestically and internationally.


Share this page:

Related content

Greek Anti-Terror Police Arrested Key Terrorist Suspect

Greek Anti-Terror Police Arrested Key Terrorist Suspect

Greek anti-terror investigators have apprehended a man in link with a deadly explosion in Athens, police expressed caution of “a new generation of terrorists” at work. A recent blast in…
Morocco and Spain Collaborated in Counter-Terror Operation

Morocco and Spain Collaborated in Counter-Terror Operation

Moroccan and Spanish security forces in a joint counter-terrorism operation apprehended two individuals, one a minor, in the Spanish enclave of Melilla on apprehension of ties to jihadist terrorism. The…
INTERPOL's Operation Neptune Reinforced Counter-Terrorism Efforts

INTERPOL's Operation Neptune Reinforced Counter-Terrorism Efforts

Recently, an INTERPOL operation to strengthen the counter-terrorism efforts has helped millions of crosschecks against international databases, resulting in 66 detentions, noteworthy seizures and the identification of 81 people subject…