COASTGUARDS in Mauritania have arrested 75 would-be immigrants who were attempting to reach the Canary Islands on a jerry-built raft.

The migrants, who were all from the disputed sub-Saharan territory of North Africa, were caught off the coast opposite Laguiera, to the west of the city of Nuadibú in northern Mauritania.

They had managed to avoid police and port authorities with the help of a gang of human traffickers.

Sources who preferred to remain anonymous revealed that on some occasions, human trafficking gangs would tip off the police of the immigrants’ departure.

This means they have several opportunities of charging the same people extortionate sums of money to help them make the crossing to Spain.