ARCHIVED - 11 boats containing 162 irregular migrants reach Murcian coastline

One of the migrants tested positive for Covid-19 and has been isolated in hospital

Across the weekend the Marine Rescue Services, Cruz Roja, police and coastguard were kept busy by the seemingly endless arrival of dozens of illegal migrants attempting to enter Spain via sea.

By the end of the weekend 162 irregular migrants had been detected and detained, after 11 separate boats were intercepted, spread across Friday evening and Saturday when weather conditions were perfect for the crossing.

The irregular immigrants, all of Algerian nationality, and therefore classed as “economic migrants” were transferred to the port of Cartagena after being picked up out at sea, totalling 137 men, nine women and 16 minors.

As is normal in this situation, all of those intercepted were taken to the Escombreras docks where they were met by volunteers from the Cruz Roja and given a medical check-over and Covid test.

One person tested positive for Covid-19, and was subsequently isolated in the Hospital de Santa Lucía in Cartagena; all 26 of those who travelled in the same boat or had contact with him upon arrival were then sent to the El Cenajo de Moratalla hotel complex where migrants are isolated for the mandatory quarantine period.

The remainder were referred to reception programmes arranged by the Ministry of Inclusion, Social Security and Migration and will be transferred to a migrant transit centre by the National Police where attempts will be made to repatriate them to their country of origin.

This will only happen if their origin can be confirmed; if not, then the Spanish authorities are obliged to release them.

Most of the vessels were intercepted off the coast of Cartagena (Monte Cenizas, Escombreras and Cabo Tiñoso), and two of them were on the beaches of Lorca (Los Hierros and Punta del Barco Perdido).

Other vessels were also reported as having arrived in both the Andalucía and Valencia regions around the same time, part of mass migrations organised by criminal gangs in addition to those arriving towards the end of last week (158 arrived in Almería on Thursday and Friday).

Algerian and Moroccan nationals currently account for the major part of the illegal immigrants reaching Spain at the moment and generally travel to Spain via organised criminal gangs, paying up to 2,500 euros a head for their transport. It is normal for the gangs to arrange for a receiver to meet the migrants on arrival and take them to a place from which they can continue travelling or where they are recruited for low-paid manual labour. Very often the migrants have borrowed money to make the journey and must re-pay the debt, so are forced to accept deplorable working conditions and low wages in order to cover their journey here.

As the migrants have entered Spain illegally they are not allowed to work in the country, although many do and find themselves being ruthlessly exploited for low wages, often living in shanty camps or squatting in abandoned buildings in the countryside or cities.

Others continue their journey across Europe to meet friends and family already living in other countries, and some find themselves in French migrant camps, attempting to cross the Channel to the UK.

Image: Archive