ARCHIVED - 13 immigrants detained after reaching Cabo de las Huertas in Alicante

Police officers searched the area to find migrants who had already disembarked

13 unauthorized migrants were detained after on Wednesday afternoon near the lighthouse of Cabo de las Huertas in Alicante after officers of the Policía Nacional and the Policía Local carried out a search of the area, having received a tipoff that the small craft had landed.

The migrants, one of whom is underage, were transferred to the port of Alicante to receive assistance from the Red Cross and be given PCR tests, and more police units were also sent to the Cabo de las Huertas area to continue searching for any immigrants who could have evaded the first search. It seems the boat reached the coast at around 4.30 pm on Wednesday and the passengers disembarked only to be intercepted by police officers.

A resident of Elda who witnessed the incident said that the boat was being followed by a Maritime Service patrol vessel from the Guardia Civil and that when those on board disembarked, one of them spoke to the resident in French, asking if he was in Spain.

The calm sea and weather were perfect for sailing on Wednesday and the conditions are set fair, leading the authorities to remain open to the possibility of more immigrant boats arriving in the next few days.