Spanish authorities on Friday intercepted a tugboat that had departed from Senegal and was found to be carrying 49 stowaways on board.

The vessel, sailing under a Belgian flag, was escorted to the port of Arrecife, the capital of Lanzarote, after the ship’s captain alerted local maritime authorities.

Enrique Espinosa, head of emergency services on the island, confirmed to local media that a Civil Guard patrol boat responded promptly to the distress call and guided the tugboat safely to port.

The identities and nationalities of the stowaways, as well as the vessel’s intended destination, have not yet been disclosed.

While the presence of stowaways aboard ships traveling to Europe is not uncommon, officials noted that the sheer number involved in this case is unusual. Under Spanish law, any stowaway who does not apply for asylum is legally required to be returned to the point of departure—placing responsibility on the ship operator to repatriate the individuals.

Lanzarote, part of Spain’s Canary Islands, is situated just off the northwest coast of Africa and has long served as a critical entry point for migrants from the continent attempting to reach Europe. In 2024 alone, nearly 47,000 migrants arrived in the archipelago, setting a new annual record for the second consecutive year. However, migrant arrivals in the region have reportedly decreased so far this year.

Authorities are expected to conduct further investigations to determine the legal and humanitarian responses required for the group of stowaways discovered aboard the tugboat.