In a shocking turn of events, Spanish police have arrested seven alleged people smugglers accused of killing eight migrants, including a 14-month-old baby, during a treacherous sea crossing from Senegal to the Canary Islands.
The investigation began after a vessel docked at the island of El Hierro in December with 224 people on board, some of whom had suffered serious injuries during an altercation on the boat. Migrants from the vessel reported that eight passengers had allegedly died at the hands of the smugglers.
Among the victims were a Gambian baby traveling with his mother and uncle, as well as a 50-year-old Guinean man and his 18-year-old son. Police are still working to identify three of the deceased and have not confirmed whether they have recovered the bodies.
The seven suspects are being held in pre-trial detention after their arrest on the island of Tenerife and mainland Spain. This incident is not an isolated one, as police arrested another seven suspected people smugglers in December for killing four migrants during a sea crossing from Gambia to El Hierro.
The surge in migrant arrivals in the Canary Islands has been attributed to their proximity to northwestern Africa and the increased patrols in the Mediterranean. A record-breaking 46,843 migrants reached the Atlantic archipelago in 2024.
