A unit of the Moroccan Royal Navy intercepted on Sunday two boats approximately 22 kilometers and 19 kilometers respectively southwest of the city of Tarfaya, carrying a total of 118 individuals attempting to illegally migrate via maritime routes.
According to a statement from the General Command of the Moroccan Royal Armed Forces, the individuals originated from Sub-Saharan Africa and Asia, and were attempting to reach the Canary Islands. The statement highlighted that among the passengers were nine women and three minors.
The statement also noted that these individuals received necessary medical attention before being handed over to the Moroccan security authorities to undergo the appropriate administrative procedures.
Morocco has been actively involved in efforts to manage and reduce illegal immigration to Europe, particularly to Spain. In 2023, the Moroccan authorities stopped 75,184 attempts at illegal migration, marking a 6% increase in interventions compared to the previous year. The decrease in irregular migration to Spain has been substantial, with a 36% drop reported in the early part of 2023 compared to the same period in the previous year. This reduction is largely attributed to the strengthened cooperation between Morocco and Spain, which includes joint patrols and operations aimed at dismantling human trafficking networks. Such collaborative efforts have been critical in addressing the challenges of irregular migration, which has been a significant issue for both countries.
Additionally, Morocco has implemented several measures domestically to combat illegal migration. This includes the dismantling of over 1,300 networks involved in human smuggling over the past five years and significant efforts to rescue and assist migrants attempting dangerous crossings. In 2023 alone, the Moroccan navy rescued 16,818 people at sea, which represents a 35% increase over the previous year.
