Agents of the National Police have arrested 19 people as alleged perpetrators of homicides and torture on board a dinghy rescued adrift in the Canary Islands on August 24.
The boat was adrift in waters near Gran Canaria and inside were 248 migrants, one of whom died in the hospital. Several migrants traveling in the dinghy report homicides, injuries and torture committed during the voyage.
In addition, the disappearance of at least 50 people thrown into the sea by the alleged skippers is being investigated. All those arrested, who were traveling on the same boat, have been placed in provisional prison.
The investigation - carried out by the BPEF of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria and agents of the General Immigration and Borders Police Station, framed in Operation Triton specialized in the fight against irregular immigration networks developed by the UCRIF Central - indicates that the dinghy would have initially departed from Senegal with about 300 people, estimating the disappearance of at least 50 migrants during the eleven days that the journey would have lasted.
The boat, made of wood and about 20 meters long, was located adrift by the Guardamar Urania, which transferred the 248 occupants to the Arguineguín dock (Gran Canaria). During the rescue operation, a man died in the hospital after arriving seriously ill.
Homicides and disappearances during the voyage
According to the statements provided by witnesses, several of the detained migrants not only skippered the boat, but also attacked dozens of people, hitting and mistreating them in different ways. In some cases, they even threw live migrants into the sea and refused to help those who accidentally fell into the water.
Witnesses point to the disappearance of some thirty people thrown overboard, although investigators estimate a total of more than 50 dead or missing, taking into account that the dinghy departed with about 300 people on board.
The causes of these deaths, according to the testimonies collected, would be related to superstitions that pointed out certain crew members as "witches" when incidents occurred during the voyage, such as engine failures, food shortages or bad weather. Likewise, homicides were documented for the simple fact that some people protested or showed their disagreement with the conditions of the trip.
Under the investigated facts, agents of the National Police proceeded to arrest 19 migrants identified as alleged skippers of the boat, all of whom are in provisional prison. The detainees are charged with crimes of promoting irregular immigration, homicide, injuries and torture.