Illegal migrants get nasty surprise from US sub

3 September 2007

MADRID – Four Moroccans hoping to make an illicit crossing to Spain to join thousands of illegal migrants there suddenly found themselves alongside a US nuclear submarine, reports said Sunday.

Crew of the 110-metre-long USS San Juan discovered the Moroccans’ flimsy boat bobbing at their side as the huge sub was easing out of Gibraltar, El Pais newspaper said.

The US crew informed Spanish coastguards via the submarine’s base in distant Norfolk, Virginia, and a Spanish rescue boat was sent. However, a Moroccan patrol boat arrived first – and repatriated the would-be migrants. dpa hk sc

[Copyright DPA with Expatica]

Subject: Spanish news