Relatives of individuals who went missing during the treacherous trip from Africa to Europe reported being requested to provide hundreds of euros for details regarding the fate of their family members.
Three families shared with the Guardian that during their long search for missing loved ones, they came into contact with individuals affiliated with an NGO located in southern Spain. These individuals claimed they could offer assistance.
All of the households reported being asked to give a minimum of €200 (£170) in exchange for details on the locations of their loved ones. One individual claimed to have been guaranteed pictures of their family member’s body in a law enforcement morgue. However, none of the families actually transferred any money.
Their claims bring attention to the challenges that the loved ones of migrants commonly encounter while trying to track the actions of their lost family members. These obstacles include navigating through unfamiliar bureaucracy and language barriers, as well as the absence of a unified system or standardized method for handling the deaths of thousands of individuals who attempt to enter Europe each year.
In December, a report by the Guardian uncovered the consequences of this legal loophole, which had led to individuals being buried in unmarked graves throughout the EU on a level never seen since wartime.
The absence of an official process, coupled with the anxiety of families seeking information about their loved ones, has created an environment that is vulnerable to manipulation.
The relative of an Algerian man who disappeared over a year ago shared that someone requested €250 from him in exchange for access to a police morgue and the opportunity to photograph his relative’s body.
“The situation was very unusual,” stated the family member. “How is it possible for these men to have access to the deceased when it is not allowed for those with missing relatives?”
A different individual, whose relative departed from Algeria in 2020, reported that their family was required to give €200 upon being informed that their missing family member was incarcerated in a prison on the Canary Islands in Spain. The family enlisted the help of an attorney but could not confirm the validity of this statement. The missing relative was advised not to contact the police in fear of hindering efforts to locate them.
The brother of a man who departed from Algeria in 2021 received a demand for €200, purportedly because he was informed that the boat his sibling was on had been taken to a confidential location due to its “hazardous” contents. He claimed that the requested funds would aid him in obtaining details about the location of the prison or detention facility where his brother was being held.
He expressed that the issue lies with the uncooperative nature of the authorities. This opened the door for individuals to exploit these families, he noted. “It’s been three years and we still haven’t received any updates. We simply want to know his whereabouts.”
Neither of the individuals implicated by the families responded to the Guardian’s request, and the NGO they are connected to did not either. In a statement posted on social media last week, the organization condemned a “malicious campaign of misinformation and slander.” They also refuted the “false accusations meant to discredit our efforts and undermine the trust” placed in them by the families of missing migrants.
The NGO clarified that it is not being investigated by any governing bodies. It stated that the allegations made against it are untrue.
The Spanish police announced last week that they apprehended 14 individuals for allegedly taking advantage of the families of those who lost their lives while attempting to reach Spain in small vessels.
According to police, the individuals accused were charged with multiple offenses such as fraud, fabrication of official documents, and showing disrespect towards the deceased.
According to a statement from the police, the individuals involved in the case communicated with families through social media and provided them with misleading information about the location of their missing loved ones in exchange for payment. The network had been taking advantage of family members in Morocco and Algeria for a number of years, particularly those whose loved ones had gone missing or died while attempting to cross the sea to reach Spanish shores in small boats.
Police stated that if the suspects were alerted to a shipwreck, they would once more attempt to communicate with families and propose aiding in a deceptive search for those on board. The suspects reportedly requested payment in advance for this service, claiming it was necessary for the process of identifying and returning the bodies in Spain.
According to reports, the individuals believed to be involved in this case are multiple government workers employed by forensic organizations in the south of Spain. It is alleged that they permitted the photographing of migrant bodies. Authorities stated that they began investigating after discovering several of these photos on social media, which were supposedly used to coerce families into signing contracts for repatriation services with specific funeral homes.
Of the three individuals who spoke to the Guardian, two stated that they had not been contacted by law enforcement.
For some time, organizations that assist families of migrants who have gone missing have advocated for the establishment of an office specially dedicated to working with these affected families.
According to Maria Ouko, a volunteer aiding families in Algeria searching for loved ones, there is a lack of legal assistance available. The absence of supportive institutions results in fraudulent activity and confusion for those seeking missing relatives.
Source: theguardian.com
