The skipper of a patera shuttle boat, who sprayed gasoline who sprayed gasoline on Guardia Civil agents to avoid arrest, has been to avoid arrest, has been identified, according to Formentera Radio Formentera Radio. The man remains unaccounted for after fleeing along the cliffs of Punta Roja (La Mola), on the island of Formentera. The events occurred last October 22, when the Guardia Civil intercepted two boats with powerful engines that were trying to unload immigrants on the coast of Formentera. In one of the operations, the skipper the skipper rammed a Guardia Civil patrol boat and, in a desperate attempt to and, in a desperate attempt to escape, threw a can of gasoline on the agents, forcing them to retreat for safety. During the chase, the fugitive abandoned the skiff near a cliff and went ashore, where he managed to hide. Meanwhile, the immigrants who remained on board were detained by the authorities.
Intensively searched in Formentera
Since then, the Guardia Civil has intensified controls in the port of La Savina, given the possibility that the fugitive may try to escape to Ibiza and then reach the Peninsula. According to information from Formentera Radio, this is the same skipper who would have operated a shuttle boat that arrived at Es Caló last October 12, with a high-speed engine and 6 meters in length. The fugitive has been described as a man with a wart under his eye, and is considered a valuable asset for human trafficking mafias due to his ability to handle powerful boats over long distances.
Changes in the mafias’ modus operandi
The use of shuttle boats reflects a change in the tactics of human smuggling organizations. These boats, which are faster and have greater capacity, make it possible to unload migrants and return quickly to Algeria to repeat the journey. According to Tomás Quesada, representative of the Jucil association, the mafias try to keep these boats because of their high profitability. The Guardia Civil continues with the active search for the skipper and does not rule out carrying out new operations on the island to locate him before he manages to escape.
