Two Suspected Human Smugglers Arrested After Migrants Tried to Reach Spain by Sea
Spanish authorities have arrested two people suspected of helping migrants illegally travel from the North African enclave of Ceuta to mainland Spain.
According to reports, one suspect was arrested for allegedly using jet skis to transport migrants, while another was caught driving a speedboat carrying 11 Moroccan migrants.
The migrants had reportedly entered Ceuta from Morocco earlier in the week during a large wave of arrivals. Spanish Civil Guard officers stopped the speedboat before it reached mainland Spain and returned it to the port in Ceuta.
Local residents claimed the person driving the speedboat was under 18 years old. However, authorities have not released the identities or nationalities of the suspects, and it is not yet known if they remain in custody or have been granted bail.
The trip from Ceuta to mainland Spain takes about 30 to 45 minutes by jet ski.
Spanish officials said they have broken up similar human trafficking networks in the past. According to authorities, smugglers can charge up to £3,500 from each migrant for the dangerous journey across the sea.
The arrests come as Ceuta faces a major migration crisis. The city, which has a population of about 84,000, recently received a large number of migrants, putting pressure on local services.
Some residents described the situation as chaotic, saying many migrants were sleeping on the streets and using public spaces because authorities struggled to manage the sudden influx.
Officials also reported that at least 72 people died during the mass crossing. Many drowned while trying to reach Ceuta by sea, while others reportedly died in a stampede near a beach border crossing.
Authorities said thousands of children were among those who crossed into Ceuta. Some were reportedly influenced by social media posts claiming they would receive Spanish citizenship if they reached the territory.
Spanish officials added that more than 49,000 migrants have since been returned to Morocco.
