New ploy by people smugglers....now they are using top of the range yachts

Guardia Civil seize vessel in Cala d´Or yacht club

Police seize luxury yacht.

Majorca Daily Bulletin reporterPalma03/02/2021 09:40

People-smugglers have changed their tactics. They are now using "luxury" yachts to bring migrants from North Africa to the shores of Mallorca with their illegal cargo masquerading as "up-market tourists."

The Guardia Civil arrested a 33-year-old Algerian man and seized his yacht which was moored in Cala d´Or.

Police sources told the Bulletin that the new tactics involve expensive yachts with the migrants pretending to be wealthy tourists who arrive at the island´s yacht clubs and simply disembark and then disappear.

The Guardia Civil have now increased their surveillance with more patrols along the coast and at yacht clubs.

Scores of people have been detained by police after crossing from North Africa in recent weeks. Usually, they arrive in basic small boats with outboard engines. Now, some are using powerful launches which would cost many thousands of euros to charter.