Three migrants found in critical condition inside a refrigerated truck upon its arrival at the Port of Algeciras (Cádiz) from Tangier were rescued by the Spanish National Police during the MINERVA operation.
According to a recent statement issued by the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, the dedication and vigilance of the National Police Frontex during their border inspection duties proved crucial in the rescue of three distressed migrants.
As the authority revealed, upon hearing knocks and voices from inside the truck’s cargo, the agents immediately took action, unsealing and opening the truck to find three individuals of North African origin in extreme fatigue and respiratory distress.
It was noted that the agents provided essential first aid to the migrants and promptly called for an ambulance. The health services swiftly responded and transferred the migrants to the nearest hospital, ensuring they received the urgent medical attention they required given their critical conditions.
Ministry also stated that significant achievements had been made during the MINERVA 2023 operation, including identifying a driver attempting to transport two minors concealed in a caravan into Spain irregularly. Additionally, law enforcement located a truck carrying two kilograms of hashish and seized counterfeit goods and contraband items such as tobacco.
As the authority explains, the MINERVA 2023 Joint Operation began on June 16 of this year and will continue until September 6.
In the previous year, the operation resulted in 2,034 identifications and over 1,900 police actions.
In June of this year, the Spanish police also unveiled a strategic plan to bolster the capabilities of the MINERVA operation. To achieve this goal, the Ministry of Interior announced the active participation of 94 experts from sixteen countries.
During the summer of 2022, Frontex data provided:
- Insights into the crossings at Spanish borders
- Revealing an average of over 2,000 crossings per day
- Encompassing both legal and illegal crossings
Notably, the first quarter of the same year saw a total of 1,780 recorded cases, indicating a considerable decline of 38 per cent compared to the corresponding period of last year.
Responding to increased human trafficking activities, the Spanish Civil Guard achieved a breakthrough by dismantling a criminal network operating in Gran Canaria.
The authorities emphasised that the dismantled criminal network focused on producing and circulating fraudulent documents. These fake documents facilitated the movement of migrants facing irregular situations, enabling them to travel from the Canary Islands to mainland Spain or other European Union member states.
