African migrant smuggler brags about earning thousands per trip and being flown home at Spain’s expense
By isabelle // 2025-03-04
Copy
 
  • A Mauritanian sailor, Ely, earns thousands of euros smuggling migrants from Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, exploiting Europe’s lenient immigration policies.
  • Ely boasts of his navigation skills, evading authorities and relying on Spain to fund his deportation flights back to Mauritania.
  • Migrants pay up to €3,000 per seat, with Ely earning €3,000–€6,500 per trip, despite the deadly risks of overcrowded boats.
  • Spain’s revolving door policy allows Ely to avoid imprisonment, highlighting systemic flaws in Europe’s immigration enforcement.
  • Record-breaking migration to the Canary Islands in 2024, with over 46,000 arrivals and 10,457 deaths, underscores the crisis.
A Mauritanian sailor who identified himself as "Ely" has brazenly revealed how he earns thousands of euros ferrying migrants from Africa to Spain’s Canary Islands, all while exploiting Europe’s lenient immigration policies. In a recent interview with El Español, Ely detailed his operations, boasting of his navigation skills, evading authorities, and even having Spain pay for his deportation flights back to Mauritania. His story underscores a growing crisis: a record-breaking surge of migrants risking their lives to reach Europe, with little fear of being sent back.

A smuggler’s lucrative trade

Ely, who operates out of Nouadhibou, Mauritania, describes himself as a skilled navigator rather than a trafficker. “I’m a sailor. I know how to navigate. If boats don’t make it, it’s because those in charge don’t know what they’re doing,” he said. His confidence is backed by a track record of four successful crossings without casualties—a rarity on a route where thousands have perished. For each journey, Ely earns between €3,000 and €6,500, depending on demand. Migrants pay between €1,000 and €3,000 for a seat, with wealthier passengers securing safer spots. A typical boat carries 60 to 90 people, though overcrowding often leads to disaster. “Once, they brought me a boat with 120 people. I refused. It was too dangerous,” Ely admitted. To evade authorities, Ely initially steers toward America before cutting back toward the Canary Islands, using marine currents to his advantage. “I don’t use GPS, just a compass and the stars,” he said. Once in Spanish waters, migrants are instructed to deny knowing the captain, a strategy that helps Ely avoid prosecution.

Spain’s revolving door policy

Despite being detained multiple times, Ely has repeatedly been deported rather than imprisoned—and always at Spanish taxpayers’ expense. “The Spanish authorities know who I am. But each time, they just send me back to Mauritania. And they pay for my flight!” he said. This revolving door policy highlights the inefficacy of Europe’s immigration enforcement, which critics argue incentivizes illegal migration. Ely’s story is emblematic of a broader trend. In 2024, a record 46,843 migrants reached the Canary Islands, surpassing the previous year’s record of 39,910. The Atlantic route has become one of the deadliest migration paths in the world, with at least 10,457 migrants dying or disappearing in 2024 alone, according to the NGO Caminando Fronteras. The surge in migration is driven by a combination of economic desperation and the knowledge that deportation is unlikely. The United Nations Refugee Agency has stated that most migrants arriving in the Canary Islands are economic migrants, not refugees fleeing persecution. Yet, with deportations rare and European policies increasingly lenient, the journey remains a calculated risk for many. While Ely profits from the desperation of others, the broader system enables his trade. “If I go again, it will be to stay,” Ely said, hinting at his own plans to migrate permanently. His words reflect a troubling reality: as long as Europe’s policies remain porous, the crisis will only deepen. Ely’s story is a microcosm of Europe’s migration dilemma. His ability to profit from human smuggling, evade justice, and exploit weak deportation policies underscores the urgent need for reform. Sources for this article include: RMX.news RMX.news TheGuardian.com
Copy