Police in the port of Almería have detained a man suspected of organizing illegal sea crossings. He was apprehended after a rubber boat from Algeria (Argelia) carrying sixteen people—including women and a minor—arrived in port. The vessel was overcrowded, and the conditions were extremely dangerous for those on board.
Upon arrival, all passengers were taken to a specialized center for temporary accommodation of foreigners. There, the standard protocol was initiated, which includes a medical check and further processing. At the same time, authorities began verifying the identity of each person involved in the crossing.
The investigation revealed that the detainee had piloted the boat throughout the journey. He had previously instructed the others to claim, in case of arrest, that navigation was a joint effort. However, police were quick to identify him as the main organizer and pilot.
Passengers reported that they had to pay around €7,500 each for a place on the boat. Despite the high price, safety was not guaranteed: the vessel was overloaded, and there were no life-saving devices on board. This significantly increased the risk for everyone involved.
During the document check, it was revealed that the detainee already had active arrest warrants and custody orders issued by various courts. The boat used for transportation was an inflatable Zodiac with a powerful engine, allowing for a rapid crossing of the sea between Algeria and Spain.
After completing all necessary procedures, the suspect was handed over to the duty court in Almería. Now he faces charges under several articles related to illegal border crossing, as well as endangering people’s lives and safety.
