Police in Almería detained three suspected patera bosses accused of smuggling 27 migrants from Algeria to the Spanish coast. The arrests followed three operations by Almería’s National Police, carried out by the Provincial Immigration and Borders Unit. The three boats were located between 16 and 23 September in San José, Rodalquilar and Carboneras, with a total of 27 people on board, including three minors. In the first case, officers arrested one man identified as the skipper of a patera carrying six people. Investigators said he piloted the boat, guided its route and handled refuelling. The crossing lasted around 11 hours, and police investigation indicated passengers paid between 3,000 and 6,000 euros for the trip. A second investigation led to the arrest of another man linked to a patera with 10 occupants, eight adults and two minors. The boat reached the shore after running out of fuel, forcing people to row using parts of fuel containers. Two occupants suffered second-degree chemical burns after contact with a mixture of sea water and gasoline. In the third case, a man was detained over a patera carrying 11 people, including one minor. The trip lasted about 36 hours. The boat began taking on water, and occupants were said to have bailed it out using plastic bottles. Police said the pattern allegedly threatened the migrants and that passengers paid around 4,900 euros. None of the three rigid, low-powered boats had chalecos salvavidas, communications equipment, search lights, water or food. One boat could not be towed after help was given to those on board and drifted, while another sank. The detainees are under police investigation for crimes against the rights of foreign citizens, and those arriving were treated by Cruz Roja and taken to the Temporary Care Center for Foreigners in Almería for the required procedures.