The 11 young Moroccans who were intercepted by the Maritime Police aboard a small vessel, near Barra do Lavajo, between the islands of Armona and Culatra, in Olhão, they were handed over to the Foreigners and Borders Service (SEF) at 8:40 am today.
However, a hospital source told the Sul Informação that the three migrants who had to be assisted at the Hospital of Faro, were discharged at 10:30 am, and will also have already gone to the Regional Directorate of the SEF.
As explained by the National Maritime Authority (AMN), one of the young people had "a slight trauma to the knee" and the other two complained of "abdominal pain", which led to them being "assisted and later referred to a hospital by the INEM, accompanied by agents of the Maritime Police».
This morning, at around 4:30 am, the Maritime Police received an alert, given by workers in the Armona Aquaculture Production Area, that there was a "suspicious vessel" approaching Barra do Lavajo.
"Elements of the Maritime Police of Olhão went to the scene and intercepted the vessel, bringing its occupants to the Captaincy of the Port of Olhão," he told the Sul Informação Captain Rocha Pacheco, commander of the Southern Maritime Zone.
The migrants, aged between 21 and 30 years, were found inside a small wooden boat, of the open mouth type, with a 15 horsepower outboard engine.
They had no identification with them. Inside the boat, which is located on the Maritime Police wharf at the Port of Olhão, as the Sul Informação you can verify on the spot, there were several blankets, a spare engine and several fuel jerrycans.
Meanwhile, and «taking into account that, apparently, we are facing a case of illegitimate immigration», the crew of the vessel were all handed over to the SEF and are currently being heard.
Photos: Hugo Rodrigues|Sul Informação and National Maritime Authority
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