A small boat with 11 migrants was intercepted by the maritime police in front of Barra do Lavajo, between the islands of Armona and Culatra in the Algarve, around 4.30 am on Tuesday. They had left the city of El Jadida, in Morocco and reached the coasts of Portugal after a journey of more than 400 kilometers. The Olhão maritime police intercepted the boat after being alerted, and the 11 Moroccan migrants were all taken care of by the INEM and then the SEF, Foreigners and Borders Services. They said he came on the advice of their friends, who had taken the same route a few months ago. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant in Portugal, tells you all about the crossing of Moroccan migrants to the Algarve.
A boat with 11 migrants intercepted in the Algarve
11 young people between 21 and 30 years old, no women
The 11 young people, "who have no identity, but who seem to be Moroccans" and who say they are between 21 and 30 years old, "say they left El Jadida, the former Portuguese “Mazagão”, and that they had spent between four and five days at sea, "said Captain Rocha Pacheco, commander of the southern maritime area.
According to the migrants, the journey was made" in a small surface boat, with a 15 horsepower engine ", a few kilos of apples and cans of gasoline.
The alert was issued at 4:20 am by workers from the production area of Aquona in Armona, who reported a suspected ship. "elements of the Marine Police Olhão went to the scene and intercepted the ship, bringing its occupants captaincy port of Olhão," said Rocha Pacheco commander.
Once on land, all youth received assistance, and three were referred to hospital because "their state of health required it".
In parallel, the Portuguese Maritime Authority has already alerted the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), "because it is most likely a case of illegal immigration".
At this time, "the provision of migrants to the services of the SEF must be carried out". They will be sent to Faro at the general management of this entity, responsible for border control.
The second attempt in a few weeks, but only the third known
This attempt to land on the Algarve coast is the second in a few weeks, but only the third known in the history of Portugal. On December 11, 2019, a group of eight Moroccans were intercepted while they were already ashore, after having landed at the beach of Monte Gordo in the south of Portugal.
These migrants applied for “protection status” in Portugal and were received at the Portuguese Center for Refugees (Centro Português para o Refugiado), in Lisbon.
Before that, there had been only one attempt on the island of Culatra, which had taken place about 12 years ago. At the time, illegal migrants were brought back to their countries of origin by plane.
