‘People died at sea, that’s how life is’
Web exclusive: West African people smuggler says that Mauritanian authorities are closing in on his operations.
Published On 11 Jan 2015
For decades Mauritania has been a transit hub for migrants hoping to reach Spain’s Canary Islands, 800km away by sea.
Despite the deadly risks involved, people smugglers have had a flourishing trade. There is no shortage of migrants willing to pay thousands of dollars to make the crossing.
In a web exclusive, Al Jazeera’s Hassan Ghani speaks to one such smuggler.
The Senegalese man, who spoke to Al Jazeera on condition of anonymity out of fear of reprisals, has been operating off the coast of Mauritania since 2006 and says it is now getting more difficult.
Follow Hassan Ghani on Twitter: @hassan_ghani
Source: Al Jazeera