The National Police have arrested two men of Algerian origin, aged 29 and 30, as allegedly responsible for skippering a boat with immigrants to the waters of Formentera. Formentera.
Those arrested face charges of favoring irregular immigration and an offense against the rights of foreign citizens.
High-risk trip and engine failure
On February 5, around 19:00 hours, the arrival of a rigid boat with a 150 hp engine was detected off the coast of Formentera. According to the first investigations, the detainees did not have life jackets or other safety equipment on board, which increased the danger of the crossing.
Initially, the trip was supposed to last eight hours, but an engine failure extended the voyage to 20 hours at sea. Throughout the journey, one of the arrested men took command of the helm, while the other was in charge of refueling and repairing the engine when it broke down, which allowed the skiff to continue its course to Formentera.
Police intervention and arrest
After being intercepted, the occupants of the boat were taken to the National Police in Ibiza, where the Red Cross carried out an initial medical triage to assess their state of health.
The Alien Brigade took care of the rest of the administrative procedures and proceeded to identify the occupants of the skiff.
Investigations confirmed the involvement of the two men as those responsible for the boat, which led to their arrest on February 7. Both were brought before the courts and could face prison sentences for the offenses charged.
The arrival of irregular boats to Formentera continues to be a concern for the authorities, who maintain surveillance operations in the area to prevent this type of high-risk crossings.
