Police Confirm At Least 50 Migrants Thrown Overboard and Tortured on Atlantic Crossing to Canary Islands

Migrant boats are common heading for the Canary Islands

Spanish authorities have confirmed for the first time that at least 50 migrants were tortured and thrown overboard during a deadly Atlantic crossing to the Canary Islands, in what investigators described as one of the most shocking migrant boat tragedies to date.

Police said the victims were accused of witchcraft by smugglers operating the boat, which left Senegal with about 300 people on board before engine failures, food shortages, and worsening weather led to violence. Survivors reported that migrants were beaten, tortured, and in some cases thrown alive into the ocean, while others were left to drown after falling overboard.

A rescue worker carries a migrant child while disembarking on Gran Canaria

The cayuco, a wooden vessel approximately 65 feet long, was rescued adrift near Dakhla, Morocco, on August 24 by Spanish coastguard ship Guardamar Urania. A total of 248 migrants were taken ashore at Arguineguin on Gran Canaria, but one later died in hospital. Witnesses immediately reported killings and abuse during the journey, triggering a major police investigation.

On Monday, Spain’s National Police confirmed the arrest of 19 suspects accused of homicide, torture, wounding, and human trafficking. Footage released by the force showed the men, who had traveled on the same boat, being handcuffed and transported from refugee reception centers. All have been remanded in custody following a court appearance in San Bartolome de Tirajana, where four survivors gave testimony as protected witnesses.

Police have detained a number of migrants over the suspected deaths

Investigators believe the cayuco left Senegal carrying around 300 people, meaning more than 50 are presumed dead or missing. Witnesses reported that some of those targeted were labeled “witches” when the boat encountered mechanical problems, food shortages, or storms. Others were allegedly killed for protesting the brutal conditions on board.

Spanish police have compared the case to a separate tragedy in June, when the bodies of five Somali migrants were recovered in the Mediterranean near the Balearic Islands with their hands and feet bound. Survivors from that voyage said they endured starvation, dehydration, and were forced to drink urine to survive.

Witnesses described seeing the horror scenes on the boat

The latest case has renewed concerns about migrant trafficking routes from Africa to Europe, where overcrowded vessels, violent smugglers, and desperate conditions frequently lead to tragedy. The ongoing investigation is expected to focus on dismantling the trafficking network responsible for organizing the deadly crossing.