ExWeb Series: The Coast Guard and "the other" ocean travelers
Nov 18, 2004 13: 06 EST
Only last week two rowers were rescued by the Spanish Coast Guard in the Mediterranean Sea. It seems a real good luck that the cops were so alert over territorial waters.
The fact is not surprising though, for all those living by the southern Spanish coast or by the shores of the Canary Island. The truth is that the police is not eagerly searching for sportive rowers in trouble. They look for small boats or rafts crowded with much more unhappy passengers.
Different kind of cruises
Jet boats have always been common in the Strait of Gibraltar waters, as the drug mafias cross from Africa to Europe taking advantage of the short distances, the treacherous waters of the Strait and the dark nights.
But now, the mobsters are re-converting their business into a different kind of cruises, even more profitable and slightly less risky: for some years now, instead of drugs, they are involved in transportation of ‘human-wares’.
Every single night
Each night, even in the winter months, they cross northwards from the coast of Morocco to southern Spain or head west to the Canary Islands, taking along illegal immigrants dreaming of a new life in Europe, away from their homes of misery, poverty and war.
The business ‘managers’ demand amazingly high fees for a ride, usually more than €6000, but desperation leads thousands of men, women and children to do whatever it takes to get the money, to save every single penny for years to get a ticket.
No room to lie down and die
And the ticket is anything but first-class. There is no need of jet-boats these days. The disgraced are herded in overcrowded Zodiak-type rafts, and taken to the sea at night. There is no room for luggage, food or even warm clothes. With dozens of people in boats not bigger than 10m long, there is no room to move at all, not even to throw up, or to faint, or to simply lie down and die.
Tomorrow: Part 2
Image from Spanish documentary ‘Balseros’ (rafters) directed by Carles Bosch/Josep M Domenech in 2002. The film tracks the stories of several Cuban balseros in their quest to reach the American coast. It was nominated “Best Documentary” in the Oscar awards 2004.
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