Migrant arrivals in Spain’s Balearics surge as smugglers switch routes

By Joan Faus

BARCELONA (Reuters) -Nineteen boats carrying around 360 people reached Spain’s Balearic Islands in the past two days, the latest surge in arrivals defying attempts by authorities to curb the fastest-growing migratory route into the European Union.

Arrivals via the Western Mediterranean route – primarily boats departing Algeria for Spain – rose 27% in January-October compared with the same period last year, the steepest increase among routes, even as overall arrivals to the EU fell 22%, according to data from EU border agency Frontex.

Smugglers are switching their operations to Algeria from Morocco over perceived less stringent controls and are using faster boats, with the Balearics their main destination, Frontex spokesperson Chris Borowski said.

Departures from Algeria no