Jet Ski Smuggling Surge: Migrants Pay Thousands for Risky Spain-Morocco Crossings

Migrant traffickers are taking advantage of this season when the beaches are crowded with tourists to do their business. The phenomenon of transporting migrants by jet ski is not new, but it raises some concern among the security forces, as these vehicles are difficult to stop and endanger the safety of other boats and bathers.

"The mafias have been using jet skis for a long time," explain sources involved in the fight against irregular immigration to La Razón, who warn of the significant influx of migrants arriving by jet skis in recent weeks, particularly on the Almeria coast. On Sunday, three migrants of Maghrebi origin were arrested as they tried to reach the Almeria coast on a jet ski. The same day, another Moroccan migrant was arrested in Algeciras, after a long chase at sea.

These cases add to at least three others recorded in recent months. "As they are faster, those who can afford it prefer this option rather than kayaks," the same sources point out, adding that migrants pay 5,000 euros to board the jet skis, compared to 1,000 or 2,000 euros to board the kayaks.