Relatives of individuals who went missing on the treacherous voyage from Africa to Europe reported being requested to provide hundreds of euros in return for details regarding the fate of their family members.
Three families, speaking to the Guardian, shared their experiences of searching for their missing loved ones for years. They mentioned reaching out to individuals they thought were associated with an NGO in southern Spain and who claimed to be able to offer assistance.
All of the households were requested to provide a minimum of €200 (£170), with the assurance that they would receive updates about the location of their loved ones. According to a statement, one individual was guaranteed photos of their family member’s body at a law enforcement mortuary. However, none of the families ended up paying the required amount.
Their claims bring attention to the challenges that migrant families frequently encounter as they try to follow the path of their loved ones who have gone missing, including navigating through unfamiliar government processes and language barriers, as well as the absence of a comprehensive database or standard procedure for handling the thousands who lose their lives each year while attempting to cross into Europe.
In December, the Guardian released a report stating that this legal loophole had led to individuals being laid to rest in unmarked graves throughout the EU, a phenomenon never before seen outside of wartime.
The absence of an official process, paired with families’ desperation to receive updates about their loved ones, has led to an environment that is susceptible to being taken advantage of.
A family member of an Algerian individual who disappeared over a year ago reported being requested for €250 by someone claiming that they could gain access to a police morgue and photograph the body of their loved one.
The relative expressed that the situation was very strange. They questioned how these men were able to view the dead body, while others with missing family members did not have the same access.
Another person, whose family member set off from Algeria in 2020, said his family was asked to pay €200 after being told that his missing relative was in a prison in the Canary Islands in Spain. The family hired a lawyer who was unable to verify this claim. The relative said he was also told not to contact police as it could jeopardise efforts to locate missing loved ones.
The request for €200 reportedly came from the brother of a man who left Algeria in 2021. He was informed that his brother’s small boat had been taken to a concealed location due to “dangerous contents”. He was told that he could get information about the whereabouts of his brother in exchange for the money.
“He expressed frustration with the lack of assistance from the authorities,” he stated. This created opportunities for individuals to exploit these vulnerable families, he explained. “We have received no updates after a span of three years. Our only desire is to know his whereabouts.”
The two individuals who were accused by the families did not reply to a request from the Guardian, nor did the NGO they are associated with. In a statement shared on social media last week, the organization expressed disapproval towards what they perceived as a smear campaign and falsehoods. They also refuted the accusations attempting to discredit their efforts and the trust placed in them by the families of missing migrants.
The NGO stated that it was not currently being investigated by any regulatory bodies. They asserted that the accusations made against them are unfounded.
The Spanish police reported last week that 14 individuals were taken into custody for allegedly attempting to gain financial gain from the families of those who drowned while attempting to migrate to Spain in dinghies.
According to authorities, the accused individuals were charged with a variety of offenses, such as fraud, forgery of official paperwork, and showing disrespect towards the deceased.
According to a statement from the police, the suspects utilized social media to reach out to families, misleading them with false information in return for monetary gain. This network has been exploiting the families of individuals from Morocco and Algeria who have gone missing or died while attempting to reach the shores of Spain in small boats for several years.
Police stated that in the event that the perpetrators were informed of a shipwreck, they would make attempts to reach out to families by claiming to assist in a “fake search” for the individuals who were on board. The police also revealed that these actions were carried out with the stipulation of upfront payment, under the explanation that it was the necessary procedure in Spain for identifying and repatriating the deceased.
According to reports, the individuals under suspicion are multiple public employees who were employed at forensic institutions in the southern region of Spain. It is alleged that they permitted the photographing of migrant bodies. The police initiated an investigation after coming across these photos on social media, claiming that they were later utilized to coerce families into signing repatriation agreements with particular funeral homes.
Two out of three individuals interviewed by the Guardian stated that they have not received any communication from law enforcement.
Groups that collaborate with the relatives of disappeared migrants have repeatedly advocated for the establishment of a bureau dedicated to assisting these families.
Maria Ouko, a volunteer aiding families in Algeria searching for their loved ones, stated that there is a lack of legal resources. She observed that there are no established institutions providing assistance to these families, resulting in various fraudulent activities.
Source: theguardian.com
