Strait of Gibraltar: Two migrants rescued from paddle surf board

Salvamento Marítimo rescued two Maghrebi men who were drifting on a paddle surf board approximately nine miles east of Punta Europa in the Strait of Gibraltar. The rescue was carried out by the Salvamar Arcturus following a notification from the Tarifa Maritime Rescue Coordination Center. The rescued individuals were subsequently transported to the El Saladillo dock in the Port of Algeciras.

This incident occurs amid a continuous flow of migrants attempting to reach the Iberian Peninsula from Ceuta, following a massive influx in late July. Authorities have noted an increase in individuals using precarious vessels and other makeshift means to cross.

In related developments, Spanish National Police recently arrested five individuals in Ceuta and La Línea de la Concepción. These operations targeted criminal organizations allegedly involved in the clandestine transport of migrants, with reports suggesting some networks charged up to 9,000 euros per person for the crossings.