Migrants arriving in Mallorca by dinghy have reportedly been turning up with high-end smartphones, spare clothes and branded trainers – with locals claiming some know exactly what to do when they reach Spanish soil.
Around 12 young Algerian men arrived at Colònia de Sant Jordi at around 9.15pm on Tuesday (15 September) aboard a blue-and-white fibreglass boat with a 60hp outboard motor.
The boat reportedly set off from Cap Djinet, Algeria, and all 12 were said to be in apparently good health when they reached Mallorca.
READ MORE: Furious shopper goes on £9,000 wine-smashing rampage after card is declined
The arrival comes amid reports that recent boat migrants reaching Mallorca have been turning up with high-end phones, backpacks, spare clothes and branded sports shoes.
Several locals and people involved in the emergency response told local media that some arrivals appear to know the procedure, allegedly saying they should “call 112 and be picked up”.
That has raised questions about what information they receive before setting off – and whether smugglers are providing instructions.
After being taken into police custody, migrants are identified and the relevant administrative procedures begin.
Where appropriate, expulsion proceedings can be opened, although this does not mean someone will be immediately expelled.
They can then receive humanitarian assistance, with Red Cross support potentially including clothing, basic supplies and transport to mainland Spain, as reported by Need To Know.
And Mallorca is far from the only part of Spain where authorities are dealing with sophisticated smuggling operations.
Thick fog has reportedly become a “perfect cover” for high-speed boats ferrying migrants from Ceuta towards mainland Spain.
The Association of Civil Guard Officers (AUGC) has released footage filmed on 4 September which it says shows several boats being used around Calamocarro, in northern Ceuta.
The organisation claims smugglers are exploiting dense fog around areas including Calamocarro beach and the cliffs of La Sirenita to evade detection.
AUGC said: “The mafias continue to make a killing at the expense of human tragedy.”
AUGC has called for more officers and resources, saying agents face the situation “daily” at Spain’s southern border.
The association claims groups traditionally involved in drug trafficking are now using their boats and experience in evading controls to make money from transporting migrants.
READ MORE: Young woman KNOCKED OUT by bone-rattling swimming pool belly flop
