The Moroccan Navy has intercepted vessels carrying more than 350 migrants, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa, in recent days off the coast of Morocco, the Moroccan news agency MAP reported today, citing a military source.
The Mediterranean and Atlantic Coast Guard provided assistance to a total of 352 would-be migrants in a rotten boat between December 18th and 21st, the source said.
Among those migrants aboard inflatable boats, kayaks or jet skis were 23 women and nine minors, the source added.
The rescued people received first aid on Navy ships, were then transported to the nearest Moroccan ports and handed over to the gendarmerie for the usual formalities.
On Monday, Moroccan police announced that they had arrested more than 12,200 would-be migrants since the beginning of the year and dismantled 150 trafficking networks.
These figures refer only to police operations against illegal immigration and do not concern the interceptions of migrant vessels heading to Spain, which were carried out by the Navy.
According to the Spanish Ministry of the Interior, a total of 37,385 migrants, mainly from Morocco, arrived by sea in Spain (on the peninsula and in the Balearic and Canary Islands) between January and 15 December 2021 – a slight decrease ( 1.7%) compared to the same period of 2020.
Departures from the coasts of Morocco to Europe, mainly to the Canary Islands, have recently increased, by sea to the Atlantic or the Mediterranean, despite tightening controls.
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