Inflatable boat with 38 people towed to Zeeland coast port

A rubberboot (inflatable boat) carrying 38 people was spotted off the Zeeland coast on Saturday morning and towed to Cadzand. Of those on board, 36 are men from Afghanistan and 2 are from Sudan.

The two Sudanese men were arrested on suspicion of people smuggling. They are still in custody and may only have contact with their lawyer. The Koninklijke Marechaussee is investigating under the Openbaar Ministerie Zeeland-West-Brabant, the regional public prosecution service.

The Koninklijke Marechaussee took them to the Ter Apel registration centre.

1 person on board has applied for asylum. The other adults go through the vreemdelingenprocedure (aliens procedure), which checks nationality and residence status, and are offered shelter. Everyone on board was medically examined, and according to the marechaussee they were doing well under the circumstances.