Stolen speedboat stopped off Formentera

On 10 September, the Guardia Civil stopped a stolen 250-horsepower sport boat carrying 22 migrants in waters off Formentera. The National Police and Guardia Civil later arrested three men suspected of organising or steering the crossing, and a judge ordered two into provisional custody.

Europa Press

Before officers could reach the boat, with Maritime Rescue providing support, one of the alleged skippers jumped into the sea in an apparent bid to evade arrest. He swam to Formentera, where he was detained for the second time this year. The same man had been arrested in a joint National Police and Guardia Civil operation in April.

Investigators found that the boat had been stolen days earlier from the Talamanca area of Eivissa. They say organisers use powerful sport boats to cut the time of crossings to and from North Africa, but that speed and overloading raise the danger.

The other two men were arrested as the investigation progressed. All three are suspected of offences including crimes against foreign citizens’ rights, human trafficking, facilitating irregular immigration and theft.

22 migrants stopped off Formentera in stolen speedboat