Spain sets radar on refugees
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Spain is setting up a pioneering network of radar and sensitive night-sight cameras along its southern coast in a hi-tech attempt to crack down on the trafficking of drugs and immigrants from Morocco.
The scheme, said to be the first of its kind in Europe and costing €142m (£90m), will enable Civil Guard paramilitary coastal patrols to spot vessels up to 12 miles from the Spanish coast, the government said. The aim is to detect the small wooden pateras and rubber dinghies that smuggle thousands of would-be immigrants from Morocco to Spain each year. With the Integrated External Vigilance System (SIVE), infra-red cameras and radar capable of detecting the presence of a person or an outboard motor will alert officials stationed along the coast.
"The government is committed to fighting the trafficking of human beings with the rule of law and new, useful and resolute methods such as the SIVE," Angel Acebes, the Interior Minister, said while inaugurating the system on Wednesday in Algeciras.
The most popular route is across the hazardous Strait of Gibraltar, which is only nine miles wide at Tarifa. Many of those packed into fragile little vessels are repatriated, while thousands manage to slip through. Thousands are believed to die in the attempt.
The system is also intended to combat hashish traffickers who ship their produce to Europe across the strait.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments