The radars of the Integral System of Exterior Surveillance (S.I.V.E.) detected on Monday at 17.45 hours a boat 5 nautical miles from Tarajalejo, in the municipality of Tuineje. The 'Tinecheyde' Patrol Boat of the Civil Guard came to assist her and managed to rescue 41 immigrants, all in good health, who were sailing in a pneumatic boat of about 7 meters in length with 2 meters in beam equipped with a 40 hp engine.
Once hoisted on board they were transferred to the Gran Tarajal Dock. All the detainees are of Maghreb origin, 36 adult males, 1 adult woman and 4 males of 16 and 17 years old. During the identification of the same, all undocumented, 36 of them stated that they were natives of El Aaiún.
In addition, the Civil Guard identified the skipper who was handling this boat, being arrested and charged with a crime against the rights of foreign citizens.
Later, at about 21.30 hours yesterday, the Command and Control Center of the S.I.V.E. in Fuerteventura detected a static signal located at a distance of 15 nautical miles (28 kilometers) from the La Entallada Lighthouse. The 'Tinecheyde' Patrol Boat of the Civil Guard arrived at the area at 22.30 hours and confirmed that it was a boat adrift, with the engine damaged and presenting a waterway, with a situation of serious risk for the lives of these people mainly due to the adverse maritime conditions with strong swell, gusty winds of north component of force 5 and waves of up to 2 meters high.
The civil guards initiated a rapid maneuver to help the immigrants, with many difficulties due to the poor condition of the sea, the poor night visibility and the overload of this boat of 6 meters in length, until they finally managed to rescue them all safe and sound.
It was 36 sub-Saharan adult males, some with mild symptoms of hypothermia that once on board the Patrol Boat were taken to Gran Tarajal where they received humanitarian assistance from the Red Cross.
This last group was conformed by 20 natives of Mali, 9 of Gambia, 5 of Ivory Coast and 2 of Guinea Conakry.