Maritime Rescue and Moroccan Gendarmes have intercepted four small dinghies in the Strait of Gibraltar with a total of 23 sub-Saharans on board.
The search for the boats began at 06:30 after the authorities received calls on mobiles from passengers.
The first boat was spotted about four miles from Tarifa by the Red Cross Vessel ‘Hermes’ and the five male passengers were rescued.
The second boat, with seven people on board, was located at 07:39 by the Maritime Rescue vessel ‘Salvamar Alkaid’ about seven miles from Tarifa.
The other two dinghies were intercepted by Moroccan Gendarme patrol boats.