Spanish police arrested two Algerians for involvement in human trafficking and illegal migration, in Ibiza on Friday.
The two suspects are also prosecuted for steering a boat to the coasts of Ibiza and Formentera.
The boat was carrying 19 migrants, including the two traffickers who were paid 8,000 euros for each would-be migrants sailing from the Algerian town of Bou Ismaïl to the Spanish coasts.
Ten migrants were forced to leave the boat at the island of Formentera to reduce the boat weight and to avoid police patrols. The remaining nine carried on until the beach of Las Salinas (Ibiza).
The boat was missing safety equipment, life jackets, flares, and food.
Illegal migration from Algeria to Spain has become a true “industry” worth millions of euros. According to Spanish local authorities, 73% of irregular migrants reaching Spanish shores are Algerians.