Algerian teenagers get arrested in Spain following nine hours trip in boat

(MENAFN) Spanish authorities have taken into custody seven Algerian teenagers who completed an extraordinary journey of nearly 300 kilometers across the Mediterranean to reach Ibiza. Local reports describe the case as unprecedented.

The teens, aged between 14 and 17, arrived at Playa d’en Bossa beach in a Geisa Naval Open 550 motorboat reportedly stolen in Algeria. Observers believe the trip was impulsive, as the youngsters wore casual beach attire, relied on a mobile app for navigation, and live-streamed parts of the nine-hour crossing, which quickly went viral online.

Experts suggest this is the first documented instance of Algerian minors attempting such a crossing without adult supervision. The teenagers are currently held in a juvenile detention center in Ibiza. Once they reach adulthood, they could face charges for illegal migration and unauthorized use of a vessel, according to reports from Algeria.

Migration to Spain’s Balearic Islands has surged, with approximately 6,000 arrivals recorded in 2024, compared with 2,278 the previous year. Tragically, at least 743 migrants have died attempting Mediterranean crossings this year alone, more than 500 of them along the Central Mediterranean route, according to news reports.

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