MADRID: During Thursday night and Friday morning the maritime rescue service and the Guardia Civil intercepted a total of 112 people who were attempting to cross illegally from Africa into Spain, following tip-offs received on Thursday from individuals in Morocco, where the immigrants began their journeys.
The first 16 to be intercepted were taken at 21.00 on Thursday evening to the port of Almería after the small boat on which they were hoping to gain entry into EU territory was intercepted five miles south of Carboneras.
Another 24 arrived in Almería on Friday morning after their boat was spotted at 4.41 27 miles to the east of the Isle of Alborán, and in between these two groups, 51 more Africans were taken to Ceuta and another 21 to Málaga. Eighteen of those who were on board these boats are reported to be women, and it is believed that various are under the age of 18.