Spanish authorities are addressing a situation involving a workboat from Dakar, Senegal, that reported 49 stowaways among its cargo. Typically, vessels encounter only a few stowaways, making this incident notable. The ship, identified as either Dutch or Belgian, was en route to Europe when the crew discovered the individuals and notified authorities, planning to divert to Lanzarote in the Canary Islands.
As of August 8, the vessel was 12 miles from shore amid a dispute with Spanish officials, who demanded a €1 million bond and assurances from the ship’s owner for the stowaways’ safe return to Senegal. The shipping company indicated they might return to Dakar with the stowaways aboard instead of complying with the demands.
After a brief standoff, the vessel was allowed to dock in Arrecife for humanitarian reasons, with a Guardia Civil patrol boat escorting it. Under Spanish law, the shipping company is responsible for returning stowaways unless they seek asylum. This case is particularly unusual due to the high number of individuals involved.
In recent years, the Canary Islands have faced significant migrant influxes, with 39,910 arrivals recorded in 2023 and nearly 47,000 in 2024, along with over 10,400 deaths or disappearances during the transit. However, there has been a slight decrease in arrivals in early 2025, with 10,882 reported.
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