The case concerns a 42-year-old Algerian man whose conviction followed a complex sequence of trafficking and criminal activity linked to a migrant journey to Mallorca. He accepted the verdict and a plea agreement that resulted in a prison sentence, acknowledging the facts presented by prosecutors. Initially, prosecutors asked for a fourteen-year term, but the final arrangement led to a seven-year sentence for human trafficking and related offenses against foreign residents. The court found him liable for exploiting a minor in the course of the offenses, and the defendant spoke to the judge, confirming his involvement as part of the agreement and admitting his actions.
Authorities had identified the man as a facilitator of boat trips to Spain, operating from his home country. In 2020, he offered to guide a minor to Mallorca for a fee of 1,000 euros, promising a path toward a new life on the island. The youngster paid a portion upfront, and in August of that year, they boarded a boat together with other migrants. Despite security measures, the vessel eluded detection, and the group managed to reach the island illegally, as recorded by the investigative team. (Court documents)
Upon arrival in Palma, the teenager was moved to a shelter in the Pere Garau district, where he remained under supervision for ten days. Social services intervened, and the youth was placed in a conservation program. The defendant’s actions, carried out under coercive circumstances, included coercing the minor to commit theft and robbery to repay the debt tied to the trip from Algeria. The vulnerable youth subsequently fled the shelter and participated again in criminal activity, a pattern the authorities linked to the defendant’s coercive influence. (Judicial statements)
The investigation culminated on October 18, 2021, with the defendant placed under remand away from the community. Prosecutors charged him with trafficking for exploitation and crimes against the rights of foreign citizens, tied to his involvement with a minor in criminal activity. Represented by lawyer Juan Carlos Peiró, the defendant ultimately accepted a five-year sentence for the trafficking offense and an additional two-year term for the related crime against the rights of a foreign national. The court’s decision reflected the combination of coercive behavior, exploitation of a minor, and the attempt to profit from the voyage to Mallorca. (Court ruling)