A third boat carrying illegal immigrants to be detected in little over 24 hours was intercepted this morning (Wednesday) by the Guardia Civil. There were sixteen people on board the small boat, some of whom are receiving treatment for hypothermia. The boat was located in the Cabrera archipelago, which is where another was intercepted early on Tuesday. It was carrying sixteen people as well.
The third boat, detected like the others by the surveillance radar system, was on the Santanyi coast near to the Ses Salines lighthouse. It was observed around half two on Tuesday morning. Seven people were detained.
The Guardia Civil add that eight other illegal immigrants were detained at different times yesterday. All are said to have arrived in Formentera on a boat from Algeria. Two were detained in Ibiza, having taken the ferry, while two others were picked up at the port in Formentera, La Savina. Two more turned themselves in at the Guardia barracks, while the remaining two were apprehended on a beach.
In all, therefore, there have been 47 people picked up since yesterday. As usual in these cases, there will be processing to check if any of the immigrants are under age; four of those who arrived in Formentera claim to be. Otherwise they will all be placed in the charge of the National Police, sent to a detention centre on the mainland and await deportation.