The prosecution requests a six-year prison sentence for a crime against the rights of foreign citizens, since it is considered that the defendant organized and carried out the crossing without ensuring minimum safety conditions for the 18 occupants of the boat.
A 24-hour trip without security measures
According to the indictment, the skiff set sail from the coasts of Algeria with 18 people on board in a journey that lasted approximately 24 hours. The vessel lacked safety devices and was sailing in extremely precarious conditions.
The group of immigrants was rescued and disembarked in the port of Ibiza thanks to the intervention of Salvamento Marítimo and the Guardia Civil, who detected the boat and proceeded to assist them.
Increase in arrivals of small boats in the Balearic Islands
The case is part of a growing phenomenon in the Balearic Islands, where in recent years the arrival of small boats from North Africa, especially from Algeria, has increased.
Relevant data on the arrival of small boats in the Balearic Islands
- In 2023, nearly 2,000 migrants arrived in the Balearic Islands in irregular boats, an increase of 35% over the previous year.
- The Algerian route has established itself as one of the most used, with a constant flow of boats trying to reach the coasts of Ibiza, Formentera and Mallorca.
- The Guardia Civil and Salvamento Marítimo have reinforced surveillance in the Ibiza Channel, one of the areas with the highest irregular migration traffic.
- The authorities have reiterated their concern about the extreme risk involved in this type of crossing, due to the fragility of the vessels and the lack of safety resources, which in many cases results in shipwrecks and loss of life.
Possible penalties for the defendant
The trial, to be held at the Provincial Court, will determine whether the accused is guilty of the crime of favoring illegal immigration, punishable under the Spanish Penal Code by up to eight years in prison when it is proven that the employer acted for profit or endangered the lives of the migrants.
