In recent years, widespread conflict and instability, border closures relating to the COVID-19 pandemic, and increased controls in North African countries have birthed an industry of smuggling migrants into Europe.
[3] According to the International Organization for Migration (IOM), of the 2,556 people who died attempting to reach Europe in 2022, 1,126 were traversing across the Atlantic route to Spain from West Africa.
[5] Additionally, on 19 June, a trawler detected a migrant boat near Mogán, Gran Canaria, carrying 53 passengers that were in poor health.
[6] Early on 21 June, Alarm Phone, a European NGO, reported that the vessel was taking on water, adding that three passengers were deceased.
"[1] By 22 June, there were statements that either 35 (according to Alarm Phone) or 39 people (according to a spokesperson from Caminando Fronteras / Walking Borders [es]), including a minor,[7] had died in the incident.