Spanish police said they have arrested a man suspected of recruiting women to send to areas controlled by the Islamic State armed group in Syria, according to the Associated Press.

An Interior Ministry statement said the 29-year-old Spaniard was arrested Wednesday in Melilla, one of two Spanish enclave cities in northwest Africa. The statement said the man distributed recordings of pro-Islamic State speeches to indoctrinate recruits.

It said the arrest was part of an ongoing operation against jihadi militants seeking to recruit pre-teen girls and teenagers in Spain.

Police on July 7 arrested a Spanish woman who allegedly maintained contact with militants in Syria, including a facilitator who gave her orders for recruiting girls and arranging their travel.

Spain has arrested some 50 suspected jihadi militants and recruiters this year.