12 illegal immigrants picked up by British salvage tug.

The 12 people were 30 miles out from the coast when they boarded a vessel being towed to Valencia by a British tug.

The Marine rescue service, Salvamento Marítimo, coordinated the rescue of 12 illegal immigrants this morning, 36 miles from the Mazarrón coastline .

The call came in at 1:50 this morning from the British salvage tug, Princeton, informing the Coast Guard that a number of people who had been on board an inflatable dinghy 36 miles out at sea, had boarded the 30 m long vessel which they were towing to Valencia.
The Marine rescue vessel Salvamar Mimosa, complete with a contingent of Guardia Civil was dispatched to the area, along with a Red Cross vessel to collect the illegals, all of Algerian nationality, 11 men and one woman.

At first light the Guardia boarded the vessel and transferred its occupants to the Salvamar Mimosa, which then brought them into Cartagena at 9am this morning.

All were given a full medical checkup on arrival in Cartagena and one was treated for minor injuries. All 12 will now be taken to the immigrants transfer Centre at Santomera for repatriation to their country of origin.

 

Image: Archive, Salvamento Marítimo