Migrant at Spain’s border with Morocco found crammed behind dashboard of car

TWO migrants crammed in to hidden compartments in a car have been rescued suffering from dehydration and numbness in Spain.

Guardia Civil officers discovered the man and woman of sub-saharan origin at the border of Beni Enzar (Melilla) between Spain and Morocco.

Two Moroccans were arrested and charged with human trafficking. 

Officers performing a routine check asked the woman driver of a car to stop and open the boot, noticing that she appeared nervous. 

They spotted that the boot space had abnormal dimensions for the car model. They lowered the rear seats and say what appeared to be a false compartment. When they opened an armrest they found a woman inside, who was immediately assisted. 

Carrying on with their inspection, the officers found another hidden compartment at the front of the vehicle. Hidden across the entire width of the dashboard was a second migrant.  

Freeing the man was more difficult due to the tiny space he was in, squeezed between the dashboard and engine. He had been tied in with his back and head next to the moving parts of the engine. 

The two people helped showed evident symptoms of disorientation, sweating, numbness and difficulty walking. In addition, they were exposed to the toxic gases expelled by the vehicle. Both were attended by medics at the scene. 

The two people rescued are 19 years old and come from Guinea and have been transferred to an immigration holding centre.