Ceuta: Spanish police have arrested five people suspected of charging migrants thousands of euros to bring them from Ceuta, Spain’s North African exclave, to mainland Spain.
According to Deutsche Welle, the arrests come less than a month after the Spanish territory, which borders Morocco, witnessed a deadly border rush in which over 70,000 migrants entered Ceuta irregularly, with many swimming or crossing on foot. Dozens of people died in the chaotic scenes. Ceuta’s leader, Juan Jesus Vivas, informed EU lawmakers that approximately 100 people had died, while Spanish NGO Caminando Fronteras reported the death toll at 141 people.
The incident has reignited discussions across Europe regarding the sensitive topic of migration. In response, Italy temporarily suspended Schengen border-free travel with Spain, prompting Madrid to retaliate by imposing border controls on travelers from Italy.
Five individuals were detained following two investigations in Ceuta and in La Linea de la Concepcion in Andalusia, which is adjacent to the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The suspected traffickers allegedly charged migrants up to £9,000 ($10,500), Spain’s Interior Ministry stated, noting that the suspects employed small boats “to smuggle migrants from Ceuta to the mainland.”
Four of the arrested individuals are believed to be members of a trafficking network that transported undocumented migrants, housed them in residences or garages in Ceuta, and then smuggled them across the Strait of Gibraltar to Spain. “Boat drivers were selected for their experience navigating fast and their ability to make evasive maneuvers and avoid police checks,” the ministry’s statement added.
In one of the crossings, seven individuals were packed into an overcrowded dinghy that was merely five meters (16 feet) long and two meters wide for five hours, lacking life jackets or other essential safety equipment, police reported. The boat ran out of fuel and drifted in the Strait of Gibraltar. The Strait’s strong currents, shifting tides, high winds, and heavy maritime traffic make it extremely perilous for individuals attempting to cross in small boats.
Current reports indicate that most of the estimated 72,000 migrants who entered Ceuta in late July have returned to Morocco, according to Spanish officials. However, thousands remain in the enclave, residing in makeshift camps, on the streets, or on the beach. More than 1,000 migrants were cleared from Trampolin Beach on Friday, following the evacuation of over 1,200 individuals from the site the previous day and their relocation to shelters. The Spanish government in Madrid has announced plans to establish temporary centers to alleviate the strain on Ceuta’s overcrowded migrant shelters.