Spanish Police Thwart Moroccan Parents’ Attempt to Flee with Children Wanted by Dutch Authorities

The couple was arrested on Sunday at the port of Tarifa, as they were about to board a boat to Tangier, Morocco, with the three children. Carrying Dutch and Spanish passports, they were attempting to forcibly take the three minors for whom protection and removal orders had been issued by Dutch judicial authorities, according to a press release issued Tuesday by the Spanish police.

During the inspection of their luggage, agents found that the couple was carrying valuable items including jewelry and a large amount of cash, proving that they intended to flee and thus escape the Dutch judicial authorities who had issued a European arrest warrant against them for "deliberately depriving their children of necessary medical care."

One of the children was in poor condition. He had subcutaneous hematomas with cerebral hemorrhage, fractures of the arm, tibia, and elbow, which required emergency neurosurgical intervention.