The National Police have detained sixteen occupants of a migrant boat that was rescued adrift in the ocean south of the Canary Islands on twenty-four August. This follows tragic reports that approximately seventy out of more than three hundred migrants who embarked on the journey have died. Witnesses, including survivors, suggest that some individuals were violently thrown overboard, while others succumbed to dehydration during the miserable eleven-day voyage. Only two hundred and fifty-one migrants managed to reach the port of Arguineguín in Gran Canaria alive.

The boat was located over four hundred kilometres from the Canary Islands, raising questions about how such a large vessel could be controlled by only a few individuals. Police suspect that there were accomplices involved and are currently investigating possible charges related to homicide due to negligence, as well as violations of the rights of foreign nationals. Investigators are also looking into claims that certain migrants, accused of bringing bad luck, were thrown into the sea, a notion believed to stem from superstitions among the crew.

Authorities have cautioned regarding the information released as the investigation continues. The detained individuals will soon face police questioning and then be made available to the competent judicial authority. The case has garnered attention on social media platforms, with relatives of the victims demanding a thorough investigation into the tragic events.

Additionally, the Court of Instruction in El Hierro is examining two other cases of alleged murders under similar circumstances, again linked to superstitious beliefs and the fear experienced by those aboard the vessel. This situation highlights the dire conditions and challenges faced by migrants seeking safer shores.