Three Moroccan fishermen sentenced for bringing two migrants into Ceuta, Spain

Section VI of the Audiencia Provincial de Cádiz in Ceuta (a Spanish provincial court) has sentenced three fishermen from Segarro to two years of suspended prison for bringing two migrants into Ceuta. The suspension is conditional on not entering the city for five years.

Section VI of the Audiencia Provincial de Cádiz in Ceuta has convicted three Segarro fishermen for bringing two migrants into Ceuta. The events took place in June, when they were caught at a migrant crossing point trinc a Guardia Civil operation. The three were in pretrial detention and accepted the sentence, so they are now released.

## Two years that need not be served without reoffending

The sentence is **2 years** in prison for each of them, but it is suspended. The suspension lasts **5 years**: if they offend again within that period, they will serve the sentence. Their admission of the facts allowed a plea agreement, so there was no trial.

## The ban on entering Ceuta

The suspension comes with an added condition: not to enter Ceuta, nor visit or live in the city. If they approach Ceuta's waters with their fishing boat, they would be in breach of the measure, would be arrested and would serve the suspended prison term. Enforcing the ban is, in practice, left to the maritime border itself.

## A sentence with translation

The conditions were explained to the fishermen through an interpreter. The sentence is final and they will be released this Tuesday, but with that sword of Damocles hanging over the water. The courts trust that the sea will act as a wall.