The Spanish and Moroccan authorities have intercepted three boats carrying a total of 27 sub-Saharan migrants.
A search for one of the vessels began after a passenger on the boat called the Maritime Rescue service. The boat, with ten people on board, was located about six miles south of Tarifa.
The other two boats were intercepted by the Moroccan authorities, with one boat carrying ten people and the other with 7 passengers on board.