Almeria
WATCH: The once-peaceful cove in Spain’s Almeria that is now a people smuggling corridor channelling hundreds of illegal migrants from Algeria
IT’S been reported more than 700 migrants have arrived on the Spanish shores of Almeria this year, paying up to €10,000 to cross the Mediterranean from North Africa, chasing dreams of a better life in Europe.
This route has long been known as the deadliest migration route in the world.
More than 2400 people died when attempting to cross the Mediterranean last year, and those are just the deaths known to the International Organisation for Migration.
Three migrants died in the last week of March attempting to reach Almeria, the gateway to Europe.
One boat has ended its people-smuggling career, captured by the Guardia Civil at the end of March, but not before it cast out around 50 Algerian migrants onto Cala Mochuela´s black-stoned shores, Diario de Almeria reported.
Once on shore, with only backpacks containing a few possessions, the migrants continue their journey further into Europe. Many will be picked up by relatives or friends waiting anxiously down the road.
Others will be transported onwards to Valencia, Catalonia and Basque Country, so long as they pay €300.
The 11.5 metre long Phantom boat, mostly used for drug-runs across the ocean, was seized a few hours later by the Guardia Civil and destroyed. It was the Phantom’s third trip across the ocean in less than a week, social media videos have documented, bringing almost 150 people to Spain.
Another boat landing was at Playa de los Muertos in nearby Carboneras.
It’s likely the illegal immigrant network will continue its lucrative but deadly business, sourcing another high-powered vessel.
One social media user, who appears to be working with a team of alleged people-smugglers, has been sharing videos of their illegal Mediterranean crossings online.
The human cost
It was the deadliest year on record for migrants globally in 2024.
Nineteen bodies were recovered by the Guardia Civil in the azure waters off Almeria last year, and 213 remain missing as reported by the Andalusian Human Rights Association.
The Association has been documenting the migrant crossings for almost four decades. During this time, it has recorded more than 19,000 deaths and disappearances during ocean crossings, with 75% occurring in the last five years.
Although the Almeria coast remains the main gateway for illegal immigrants into Europe, Spain’s Ministerio del Interior recorded there has been a 36% drop in those entering the country without legal rights to do so.
As one of the lowest figures in the last decade, 4000 African migrants arrived on the 200 km coastline via sea last year compared to 6000 in 2023.
The Ministerio del Interior has recorded 139 arrests in Almeria for illegal trafficking over the last three years. But just 33 were tried in the courts last year.
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Roquetas de Mar is changing year to year and offers a lot of nice places to relax like the more than 7km long promenade, green areas, the golf course of Playa Serena (suitable for all standards of golfers), comfortable restaurants, cafes, typical tapas bars, a commercial centre with more than 100 shops, cinema and a theatre. The complex Los Albatros offers communal pool, green areas, parking spaces and is situated on 2nd line to the beach, just around 80m to the beach and close to all amenities. Top floor apartment with 166.19m² constructed area, on 3rd floor, facing south and north and with… See full property details
Apartment
Roquetas de Mar, Almería
2 beds |
1 baths |
€ 175,000
Almeria
EXCLUSIVE: ‘It’s disgusting’: British mother accuses police in Spanish tourist town of ‘brushing her son’s murder under the carpet’
THE mother of a Brit who died in a Spanish resort has slammed the police for caring more about protecting the town’s reputation than catching her son’s killers.
Brett Dryden, 35, a father of one from County Durham, was found dead with a gash to the head at his seaside apartment in Mojacar, Almeria, last July.
Police had initially told the family that Brett had died from a blood clot on his lungs after falling and hitting his head.
But a recently obtained autopsy contradicted this version of events, revealing that ‘there were significant marks on the body to indicate a physical struggle.’
Now, Brett’s mother, Sarah Adams, has told the Olive Press she’s ‘disgusted and just absolutely so angry’ at the ‘sloppy work’ – and attitude – of the Guardia Civil in investigating his death.
“They would rather bury it and claim it was an accidental death just to keep the good image of the town,” fumed the 56-year-old.
“We flew out there immediately as soon as we heard the news, but it was about five days before we managed to speak with them,” Sarah said.
“They said that it was a terrible accident, and he had had a pulmonary embolism, which led to him falling and banging his head.
“While we were out there, [the police] were trying to rush us to have the cremation in Spain. They even let his friends walk through the crime scene not once but twice.
“They actually closed the case, and a judge only ordered it to be re-opened and investigated correctly when I pointed out that Brett’s phone and money were missing.
READ MORE: British family demand answers over ‘murder’ of expat dad at his seaside home in Spain’s Andalucia
“We’ve just come back from Spain after getting the autopsy results, which was a right struggle to get hold of. And it states that there were signs of a robbery and a struggle in his villa.”
It’s now nine months since Brett’s death and ‘we’ve still had no contact from [the Guardia Civil],’ Sandra added.
“All we want is for them to cooperate and speak to us and give us an update. I want to know that they’re doing something.”
The family are now applying for a licence to stage a protest outside the town hall to express their feelings on police failings in Dylan’s case.
Brett had moved to Mojacar in 2019 to set up a legal cannabis club. “I was always dead against it, I don’t know why he went it’s just something he wanted to do,” Sandra said.
“But he opened this cannabis club on the beach, which turned into a little community, and he made lots of friends and got a lot of support from the community out in Mojacar, people of all ages, nationalities and races.
“It’s just amazing the people he knew and met.”
The former Nissan worker was found dead by friends when he failed to return from a siesta.
Adding to the family’s suspicions that he had been the victim of a crime, his Gucci sunglasses, cash savings and phone were found missing.
Most disturbingly, Sandra insists that a silent call was made to her from his phone after he died, leaving her convinced that someone stole it.
The senior care worker said Brett’s friends found him ‘covered in blood’ and that police told them it had been a ‘violent death’ and that he may have been ‘hit with an axe’ – before changing their story.
“There was blood all through his like apartment, with hand prints all over the walls,” she added.
CCTV footage from the neighbours reportedly showed three men fleeing from the scene around the same time.
Sandra even claims she was not even informed that he had a 4x5cm gash to his head, which she only discovered upon seeing his body at the crematorium.
“I do believe, with my hand on my heart, that Brett knew his killers.”
AN ALMERIA baby died on Sunday after a ‘botched’ home circumcision demanded by his parents.
His mother and father- originally from Mali- and a third person who performed the procedure have been arrested by the Guardia Civil in Roquetas de Mar.
All three appeared before a Roquetas judge on Tuesday, with the parents bailed but the ‘healer’ remanded into custody.
The man brought in to carry out the circumcision had no medical background.
Investigations are continuing with the trio facing negligent homicide charges.
A search of the family’s home was carried out on Monday afternoon.
The baby boy- aged 45 days- suffered a serious loss of blood and his parents took him to the Roquetas de Mar Norte health centre but medics were unable to save him.
The sub-delegate of the Government in Almeria, Jose María Martín, expressed his ‘shock and regret’ over the death.
He praised the ‘professionalism’ of the Guardia Civil investigation and health staff who tried to help the baby.
“I express the commitment of the Government of Spain to protect children against this reprehensible practice which will be prosecuted,” he added.
It’s not the first case of its kind in Spain with a six-month-old baby dying in similar circumstances at a Zaragoza property in 2008.
The parents were handed down 18 month jail terms.
Three years later, a Valencia baby aged just a month bled to death in a hospital after friends of the parents performed a circumcision.
In 2017, a man was arrested in Murcia who pretended to be a doctor and offered home circumcisions for children at €120.
A police probe uncovered he sterilised instruments in a dishwasher and gave anaesthetics to minors without any consultation or tests to work out any potential allergies or adverse reactions.
The procedure is linked to various cultures and religions, and is not dangerous if it is performed by medical professionals.
It has been shown to bring health benefits, reducing the chances of urinary tract infections.
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