Crew of immigrant ship arrested in Tenerife

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Saturday September 16, 2006

Santa Cruz- The crew of a fishing vessel which landed 165 undocumented Asian immigrants on the Canary Island of Tenerife have been arrested, reports said Saturday. The captain and four crew members are suspected of people smuggling. The immigrants from Pakistan, India and Sri Lanka have been brought to a centre in Santa Cruz.

The Spanish authorities have said they will send the immigrants back to their home countries as soon as possible.

The Canary Islands have received some 24,000 African immigrants so far this year.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur