27 African migrants rescued off Brazil coast, says Officials

No fewer than 27 migrants from West Africa were rescued from a drifting boat off the coast of northern Brazil, officials from the state of Maranhão said on Sunday.

According to a Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, the state government said a fishing boat came upon the drifting vessel with 27 people aboard, including migrants from Senegal, Nigeria, Guinea, Sierra Leone and Cape Verde, along with two Brazilians.

Some were suffering from dehydration.

Brazilian newspaper Folha de S. Paulo, citing a Federal Police officer, said that both the rescued Brazilians were arrested for human trafficking.

The official, according to Folha, said the migrants paid to be illegally transported to Brazil.

Federal Police did not immediately comment on the matter.

Brazil’s Navy said in a statement it had opened a probe, but did not comment on arrests.

The boat had been at sea for five weeks, said Folha, citing the Federal Police.

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