We covered recently the disastrous, illegal-immigrant landing on the 15th that brought with it bodies being washed up in Castell de Ferro and Baños (Polopos).

Seventeen people, including three minors, managed to reach dry land; others did not, drowning within sight of the Costa Tropical.

Drug runners also carry immigrants but force them out of the boat to swim ashore, rather than coming in too close and getting cornered by a Guardia Civil launch.

Following this tragic incident, both the Civil Guard and the Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie launched investigations to locate and arrest the organisers behind the crossing. The Moroccan side was successful and five suspects were identified.

“The steps taken revealed that the migrants had embarked the previous morning from a beach in Al Hoceima aboard a RIB equipped with three outboard motors and manned by three people in charge of transport,” the statement explained.

From that point on, the exchange of information between the Civil Guard and the Moroccan Gendarmerie was key to solving the case. The Moroccan police questioned the twelve people who had been left behind on shore and could not make the crossing.

Thanks to their statements, it was possible to identify the alleged criminals; one has already been arrested in Morocco, the remaining four are currently wanted by authorities and at large.

(News: Castell de Ferro, Costa Tropical, Granada, Andalucia)

Keywords: Immigrant Boat, Drowned, Moroccan Gendarmerie, Suspects Identified, Drug Runners

news, andalucia, granada, costa tropical, castell de ferro, immigrant boat, drowned, moroccan gendarmerie, suspects identified, drug runners