In Spain, particularly among the Canary Islands, many young migrants find themselves imprisoned under accusations of human trafficking, primarily for navigating the cayucos — the small boats they used to travel to Europe from West African countries such as Mali, Mauritania, or Senegal. They are often portrayed as criminal masterminds, yet reports indicate a shift from the previous trend of apprehending actual traffickers to now targeting vulnerable individuals like fishermen and young men misled by false promises of a better life in Europe.

Humanitarian organizations and legal representatives have decried this trend, emphasizing that these migrants do not fit the typical profiles of traffickers, but rather represent the desperate circumstances faced by individuals seeking a better future. Many of these young men, who might have once served as crew members or simply assisted with food distribution during perilous maritime journeys, are now labeled as criminals and are held accountable for the dangerous situations they found themselves in due to dire socio-economic conditions in their home countries.

This stark shift raises significant ethical concerns regarding the treatment of migrants in Europe. By framing these individuals as criminals, authorities might be diverting attention from the systemic issues driving migration and the real traffickers who exploit vulnerable populations. Moreover, as communities like the Canaries continue to accept influxes of migrants, the legal and social repercussions of these policies become increasingly complex, calling for a reevaluation of how Europe handles migration and accountability in its border policies.