The island of San Andrés has become, for many, a necessary bridge to cross to reach Panama and continue on the road to the United States, which ends up being the favorite destination for most
The Colombian Navy rescued 26 migrants, including nine minors, who were being illegally transported in a boat near the Caribbean island of San Andrés and heading to Central America, military sources reported this Sunday.
In a statement published by the Colombian Navy, they stated that the group of rescued people was made up of people of Venezuelan, Ecuadorian and Chinese nationality.
The boat was detected by the Traffic Control and Maritime Surveillance System in San Andrés, which alerted the Rapid Reaction Unit of the island’s coast guard station, from where the rescuers left for the point where the boat was.
The officials’ report indicates that the transfer of this group of people occurred in a vessel that did not meet the minimum safety conditions to undertake this type of travel, in addition to not having the legal requirements to complete these tours.
“Nine minors were among these safeguarded people, who were transported in a boat without the minimum security conditions to go to sea and in breach of current maritime regulations,” the letter added.
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For this reason, the boat was taken by the Navy to the main pier of the San Andrés Coast Guard and the rescued were made available to Colombia Migration.
Likewise, two people were arrested and “placed at the disposal of the Office of the Attorney General of the Nation” for prosecution, while the two minors were attended by “the competent authorities in order to restore their rights.”
Due to the economic, social and political crisis that Venezuela has faced in recent years, many citizens choose to emigrate. Given the impossibility of doing it through regular channels, they opt for routes that put their lives at risk.
The island of San Andrés has become, for many, a necessary bridge to cross to reach Panama and continue on the road to the United States, which ends up being the favorite destination for most.
*With information from swissinfo
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