Spanish traffickers arrested after forcing Moroccan migrants to jump into sea

The Spanish Ministry of Interior said today that three individuals have been arrested in Cádiz and Granada on suspicion of causing the deaths of five Moroccan migrants who were thrown into the sea during a horrifying incident last November.

The arrests were made in a joint operation involving the National Police and the Civil Guard, with collaboration from EUROPOL.

According to authorities, the arrested individuals are believed to be responsible for forcing migrants off a high-speed boat into the perilous waters off the coast of San Fernando and Chiclana (Cádiz). 

The suspects threatened the migrants with a machete, knowing that the area had strong currents and that many of them did not know how to swim.

Reports suggest that the migrants were coerced with violence and threats, including the use of a knife, despite the dangerous currents and the fact that many of them couldn’t swim.

Initially, four bodies were recovered from the sea, with the fifth being found days later and identified through DNA provided by relatives in Morocco. 

According to the authorities, at least 37 migrants were aboard the boat, paying 3,000 to 12,000 euros for the journey from Kenitra to Cádiz.

The investigation into the incident began when authorities became aware of the events that unfolded on November 29, 2023. 

The boat, described as a “narco-boat,” was reportedly overcrowded with migrants when it conducted a forcible disembarkation, forcing them to jump into the treacherous waters.

As the boat resumed its journey, the remaining passengers were allegedly threatened with a knife and forced to jump into the sea. Some managed to be rescued by a passing boat, but tragically, five lost their lives.

The joint investigation team, comprising the National Police and the Civil Guard, worked to track down the boat and uncover details about the journey, including the identities of those involved and the amounts paid by migrants. 

This led to the arrests of two men and a woman on charges including homicide, belonging to a criminal organization, and smuggling.

Searches were conducted in three locations, leading to the apprehension of the suspects. The operation, overseen by the Court of Instruction No. 3 of San Fernando and supported by the Cádiz Prosecutor’s Office and legal authorities, remains ongoing with the possibility of further arrests.