The migratory flows from Africa toward Europe have changed. After Lesbos (Greece) and Lampedusa (Italy), the Canary Islands (Spain) is emerging as one of the main destinations of migrants who aim to reach Europe.
In the midst of an increasing number of boat arrivals from Africa to the Canary Islands, the detention and prosecution of alleged smugglers—or "cayuco [boat] captains," alleged facilitators of irregular immigration—has become a common practice, characterized by a lack of due process and harsh penalties. Sources, including police officers and prison and court workers, say that Spain is wrongfully prosecuting vulnerable migrants as smugglers.
Police and judicial sources point to irregularities in police actions, such as conducting interviews without legal assistance and the lack of interpreters during interrogations. Migrants face pretrial detention and isolation that, combined with poor legal assistance, can lead to plea bargains. The lack of due process is also leading to the detention of unaccompanied minor migrants, accused as adults due to illegalities in police investigations.
