Increasing Human Smuggling Tactics Challenge in Spain’s Formentera Island

Spain’s Guardia Civil is facing increasingly aggressive tactics by human smugglers on the island of Formentera, which has become a new dropoff point for migrants seeking access to Europe via the Mediterranean route. In recent weeks, inflatable boats carrying migrants have been arriving at Formentera, unloading their passengers in a rapid and coordinated manner before speeding off back to their point of origin, possibly Algerian shores or a larger mother vessel. This method of delivery, resembling a raid, has raised concerns due to the risks involved in making the long journey overloaded with fuel and passengers.

The volume of these smuggling voyages is on the rise, with five boats carrying a total of 95 people arriving on Formentera over a recent weekend. Some migrants were intercepted at sea, leading to rescues and attempted arrests. However, the intercepts have not always been peaceful, with instances of skippers ramming police boats, throwing gasoline at officers, and fleeing the scene. Despite efforts to evade capture, three skippers of North African origin were detained during these interdiction operations.

The Guardia Civil has reported that the suspects often wear hoods to avoid identification, indicating their intention to escape arrest and return to Algeria for further smuggling activities. If caught, the skippers risk facing charges related to illegal immigration and crimes against the rights of foreign citizens. This year alone, more than 3,500 maritime migrants have arrived in Spain’s Balearic Islands, surpassing the total for the entire previous year, delivered on 220 individual boat journeys.

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