National Police officers in Las Palmas have arrested two people in connection with the death of a migrant during a sea crossing to Gran Canaria.
The arrests were made following an investigation by the Provincial Immigration and Border Brigade after an inflatable boat carrying 62 migrants was rescued by Maritime Rescue and brought to the port of Arguineguín on 9 May 2026.
From the moment the vessel arrived, officers launched an investigation to identify those responsible for organising the journey and to establish whether any crimes, disappearances or deaths had occurred during the crossing.
The case took a significant turn when police received a report from a relative concerning the disappearance of one of the migrants who had been on board. Investigators faced difficulties gathering information, as several witnesses were initially reluctant to cooperate due to fears of possible reprisals.
Despite these challenges, officers were able to obtain sufficient evidence and witness testimony to reconstruct the events. The investigation concluded that the migrant died after an argument with two fellow passengers while at sea. During the altercation, the victim fell overboard and the vessel continued its journey without any attempt being made to rescue him.
On 29 May, police arrested two suspects for their alleged involvement in the incident.
One of those detained, identified as the boat’s captain and allegedly linked to the network that organised the crossing, has been accused of facilitating irregular immigration and homicide. The second suspect was arrested on suspicion of homicide.
Both individuals were subsequently brought before the relevant judicial authority, which has initiated the corresponding legal proceedings.
The latest arrests bring the total number of people detained by National Police in Las Palmas during 2026 for their alleged involvement in organising irregular migrant crossings to 13.
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