The border controls reestablished by Spain for travelers coming from Italy have already affected 3,115 people since their entry into force last Saturday, August 8, according to the latest data provided this Thursday by the Ministry of the Interior.
Until 2:00 PM on August 13, Spanish security forces had requested documentation from those more than 3,100 passengers upon their arrival in the country. In total, 273 flights have been controlled and 446 agents have participated in the operation deployed at Spanish airports with direct connections to Italy.
The measure responds to the decision adopted by the Government after Italy suspended the application of the Schengen area to Spain following the migration crisis recorded in Ceuta on July 30.
More than 400 passengers controlled in the last 24 hours
Only during the last 24 hours, 430 passengers have gone through these controls. The highest number has been recorded at Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas Airport, where 175 people coming from five flights have been identified.
At Josep Tarradellas Barcelona-El Prat Airport, agents have requested documentation from 106 nationals of third countries arriving on seven flights.
Controls have also been carried out at other mainland airports. In Valencia, they have affected 34 passengers from four flights; in Málaga, 13 people coming from three flights; and in Bilbao, nine travelers arriving on three planes.
Controls also in the Balearic Islands and Canary Islands
The operation also extends to the island airports that receive connections from Italy.
In the Balearic Islands, Menorca has recorded eight identifications among passengers from ten flights. In the Canary Islands, Tenerife Sur has concentrated 22 identifications corresponding to four flights.
Additionally, two individual controls have been carried out in Lanzarote among passengers from two flights and one identification in Fuerteventura, also regarding two connections. In Gran Canaria, one person has also been identified among travelers from two flights.
The controls between Spain and Italy will continue until September 7
Spain temporarily reestablished border controls on Saturday, August 8 at airports and ports with direct connections to Italy.
In principle, the measure will remain in effect until next September 7, while the Spanish Executive hopes that Italy will lift the Schengen suspension applied to Spain after the massive entry of migrants recorded in Ceuta at the end of July.
The reestablishment of controls means that travelers arriving from Italy may be subject to document checks upon their entry into Spain, despite being movements between two countries belonging to the Schengen area.