Spanish police intercept boat with 49 African migrants

Spanish police today stopped 49 North Africans trying to reach Spain illegally in a small boat.

After crossing the Strait of Gibraltar from Morocco overnight in a single-engine boat, the 44 men and five women were spotted by police about 1.5 miles off the town of Tarifa at Spain’s southern tip just before dawn, the Interior Ministry office in the provincial capital Cadiz said.

All of them are believed to be from north-west African countries.

The migrants were to be taken to the port of Algeciras and were expected to be returned to their countries of origin.

Hundreds of Africans seeking a better life in Europe try to reach Spain weekly by crossing the Strait of Gibraltar packed into small boats.

Many are caught, but officials estimate thousands manage to slip through each year. Many drown while making the crossing.