Italian border police are currently searching for a truck driver who was caught on video whipping female migrants after discovering them in the back of his truck near the French border. The incident occurred when smugglers loaded 12 Eritrean women onto the truck at a rest stop near the French border while the truck driver was having lunch. The women reportedly paid 100-150 euros ($110-165) each to be transported across the border, although authorities believe the truck driver was unaware of their presence.
Once inside the truck, the women began to agitate due to the heat, with temperatures exceeding 30 degrees Celsius (86 degrees Fahrenheit), which drew the driver's attention. A witness captured the disturbing scene on video, showing the man using a cargo strap to strike at the women as they exited the truck. One woman bravely shielded others from the blows, while another attempted to grab the strap from the driver.
Following the incident, the women returned to a center operated by the Catholic charity Caritas, where they had been residing. Despite facing challenges, including two failed attempts to cross the border on Monday and Tuesday, the women eventually succeeded on their third try, according to Serena Regazzoni of Caritas Ventimiglia.
The mayor of Ventimiglia condemned the truck driver's actions but also expressed concern for the safety of drivers who may unknowingly transport undocumented migrants. Mayor Flavio Di Muro highlighted the risks faced by truck drivers and emphasized the need to protect them from accusations of aiding clandestine immigration.
While authorities continue to search for the truck driver, it is unlikely that he will face immediate sanctions unless the women formally file a complaint. Ventimiglia, a town in northern Italy, has become a focal point along the migrant route as individuals who have crossed the Mediterranean seek to reach wealthier northern European countries, often to reunite with family members.
