A boat with 22 migrants from Morocco was intercepted in the territorial waters of Portugal this Monday morning around 5 a.m. The boat was spotted by fishermen who alerted the Portuguese Maritime Police in Vale do Lobo, near Faro in the Algarve. The whole group says they come from Morocco: they have all been taken care of by the SEF (Foreigners and Borders Service) and they will all be tested with coronavirus today. Their journey lasted 3 days, and they are suspected of illegal immigration by the Portuguese police. This is the second time in a few days that a boat from Morocco has attempted to reach the beaches of southern Portugal. Lisbob, the expatriate assistant, tells you all about the arrival of 22 migrants.
A boat with 22 migrants intercepted on the beach of Vale do Lobo, in the Algarve - Photo: D.R.
This is the second time in a few days that a boat suspected of carrying illegal migrants has attempted to reach the beaches of southern Portugal. Indeed, after the interception during the week of a boat near Olhão with 7 male migrants on board, it is today a boat with 22 migrants which was intercepted in the early hours by the maritime police of Faro, near from Vale do Lobo beach. The maritime police were alerted by a fishing captain.
Faro Maritime Police commander Rocha Pacheco told the Observer newspaper that the group was arriving on a small boat suspected of illegal immigration. The disembarkation of these migrants, who claim to be Moroccan and who said they left Morocco three days ago, was also carried out in Vale do Lobo.
Migrants from North Africa are now looked after by the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF), and have already received assistance. The entire group will test Covid-19 later on Monday, the Lusa news agency said.
“Those intercepted by the maritime police were immediately guaranteed basic needs, including food and medical assistance. The tests of Covid-19 will also be ensured, by the INEM (National Institute of Medical Emergency), always during this day ", indicated the SEF in a press release.
In it, it is also mentioned that the 22 migrants, all men, are currently in the care of SEF, which is developing the procedures necessary to verify their identity, as well as to assess the context of the situation, since they are arrived without documents.
The European Commission said on Monday that it was aware of the case, guaranteeing to "closely monitor" the migration situation at the external borders of the European Union (EU), but declined to make a specific comment on this subject.
