Comoros authorities have arrested a suspected people-smuggler in connection with a tragic incident that resulted in the deaths of at least 25 people after a migrant boat capsized last week. The incident took place on the night of October 30, during a perilous 70-kilometer journey from Anjouan, a Comorian island, to Mayotte, a French overseas territory in the Indian Ocean.
Fahmy Husny El-nassib, the head of the Comorian coastguard, confirmed that the boat had encountered engine trouble, but the reason behind the deliberate capsizing of the vessel remains unclear. The authorities suspect that traffickers intentionally sank the boat as part of a dangerous people-smuggling operation.
El-nassib further confirmed that the prosecutor in Mutsamudu, the largest city on Anjouan, had informed him that one of the individuals suspected to be involved in the trafficking operation had been arrested. Security sources suggest that the arrested suspect is believed to be the leader of the smuggling network and the owner of the boat used in the ill-fated voyage.
The United Nations migration agency initially reported that the incident occurred on the night of November 1, with the boat reportedly overcrowded as it attempted to reach Mayotte. Over the years, thousands of migrants have undertaken similar perilous journeys, drawn by the hope of a better life in Mayotte, which offers a higher standard of living and access to France’s welfare system.
The Comoros police and prosecutor’s office have not yet provided any further details in response to media requests. Authorities continue to investigate the incident and the involvement of other individuals in the illegal smuggling operation.
