MADRID: Spanish customs arrested 19 illegal immigrants on Thursday morning the Marine Rescue Services were again called out to rescue 11 people who were attempting to cross the Straits of Gibraltar in a tiny inflatable which overturned. 2 were airlifted by the Helimar 211 and the remaining 9 people were brought in by the Salvamar Alkaid.
After a tip-off call was received they were located three miles to the west of Cap Spartel on the north coast of Morocco near Tangiers, and two of those on board were taken immediately by helicopter to Jerez de la Frontera in the province of Cádiz, where they were treated for advanced hypothermia. The other nine were transferred by sea to Tarifa, where they also received medical treatment.
Two more immigrants into Ceuta suffered various superficial injuries while successfully scaling the six-metre barbed wire double border fence and clambering into EU territories in broad daylight without being spotted by frontier guards. The wounds to their hands and arms were treated by residents and the Red Cross before they were taken to the temporary immigrant accommodation centre.
