Migrant boat that came ashore in Zeeland had left from the Netherlands, prosecutors say

The boat carrying 38 migrants that came ashore in the Zeeland village of Cadzand last Saturday set off from within the Netherlands, the Public Prosecution Service (OM) confirmed on Thursday.

The Marechaussee said on Saturday that the inflatable boat was spotted near Breskens between 5:30 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. The Public Prosecution Service has not disclosed its exact departure point.

The Coast Guard was dispatched after detecting the vessel on radar. Its crew then contacted the Marechaussee and the Royal Netherlands Sea Rescue Institution (KNRM) after discovering that the boat was carrying passengers.

Two Sudanese passengers were arrested on Saturday on suspicion of human smuggling. A court extended their pretrial detention by 14 days on Tuesday. They are being held in restricted custody, which means they can only communicate with their lawyer.

Medical personnel examined the passengers for signs of hypothermia after the boat came ashore. The group consisted of 36 Afghan men, including six boys under the age of 18, and two Sudanese men. The OM said their condition was relatively good considering the circumstances. They were taken to the Marechaussee's Brabant-East Brigade in Hoogerheide on Saturday.