LUANDA, Jan. 4 (Xinhuanet) -- A group of 237 illegal migrants attempting to reach Europe by boat were detained on Tuesday by authorities in Cape Verde, according to reports reaching here from Praia on Wednesday.

    The group of migrants from west African countries including Guinea-Bissau, Mali, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Guinea and the Gambia, set off Dec. 27 from Cape Verde in a Senegalese-registered ship heading for the Spanish Canary Islands to the north.

    The migrants, who each paid 1,000 euros (about 1,200 U.S. dollars) for their attempt to reach Europe, persuaded the ship's crew to return to Cape Verde due to lack of food and water after a few days at sea, and the boat docked at Palmeira on Sal Island, Cape Verde's authorities detained all 237 passengers.

    Local police sources were quoted as saying that the whole group would be returned to their respective countries of origin.

    Cape Verde is an archipelago of 10 islands and five islets in the Atlantic Ocean, about 500 km. west of Senegal. It is a transit point between Western Europe and Southern Africa as well as Southern America.

    Due to its geographical location, Cape Verde is becoming a location for African clandestine immigration to Europe, according to the reports. Enditem