Authorities reported that a man connected to a rescue of migrants was detained by police on the coast near Alicante last week. The case unfolded after National Police in Alicante collected evidence indicating that the individual served as the captain of a boat intercepted in Santa Pola while traveling with ten companions, all of Algerian origin. The arrest followed a formal investigation at the police station, identified as part of the Migration Networks and Documentary Lies Combat Unit, commonly known as UCRIF, operating under the Alicante Provincial Police. One of the Algerian men who accompanied the boatman on the vessel that reached the Santa Pola lighthouse pointed to the boatman as the person responsible for coordinating the irregular crossing. (Alicante Police, official briefing)
Over the period from last Wednesday to this Sunday, the Alicante coastline saw a notable influx of arrivals, with thirteen boats bringing a total of 163 migrants to various points along the shore. The most recent arrival involved a rescue operation conducted about 50 miles east of Alicante by the Salvamar Leo, a vessel of the Sea Rescue service. A sailboat signaling distress triggered the event, and seven migrants were pulled from the water and subsequently cared for by Red Cross teams in Alicante. They exhibited signs of dehydration, fatigue, and malnutrition, prompting immediate attention from medical personnel. The Red Cross underscored the challenging conditions faced by those rescued and called for continued vigilance and support for vulnerable migrants in the region. (Sea Rescue coordination, Red Cross medical briefings)
Local authorities emphasized that the pattern of crossings has drawn the attention of multiple agencies, who are working to dismantle organized networks facilitating irregular migration. The investigation teams continue to examine the roles of individuals involved, including the suspected captain and other associates, with prosecutors and the Migration Networks unit pursuing charges related to human smuggling and the provision of assistance to irregular migrants. Community leaders and humanitarian organizations have urged authorities to balance strict border control measures with the protection of migrants’ rights and welfare as incidents along the Costa Blanca persist. (Alicante Provincial Police statements, humanitarian NGO briefings)