125 Senegalese migrants intercepted en route to Spain

eu_migration

Migrants

Migrants

The Mauritanian navy has intercepted 125 Senegalese migrants on a wooden boat in the country’s waters while en route to Spain, a navy official said on Monday.

The boat left from the Senegalese city of Thies a week ago and was heading for Spain’s Canary Islands when it was stopped, Col. Al Hassan Ould Mohammad told a press conference on a navy ship.

Those on board were arrested and taken to Mauritania’s capital Nouakchott to be handed to security authorities, he said.

The officer said that each migrant paid 1,000 dollars to smugglers in order to attempt the perilous journey to Europe.

Mauritania has been used as a launching pad by migrants trying to get to Europe.

The authorities say they have prevented hundreds of African migrants from flowing into Europe through its coast.

Load more