Tight surveillance in Morocco’s northern coasts as irregular migration attempts multiply

Three individuals between the ages of 18 and 58 were detained on Thursday, August 10th, in Agadir, according to the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGSN).

The detainees are allegedly connected to a criminal network that facilitates illegal immigration and human trafficking.

Judicial police apprehended the suspects as they prepared to board ten migrants including four minors, for sea travel, in an operation conducted in the community of Chtouka Ait Baha.

The three suspects were apprehended and are under ongoing inquiry and the migrants were submitted to the applicable legal processes, according to DGSN.

The activity of irregular migration is no longer restricted to the northern shores alone and is now extending to other coastal locations.

The security officials in Casablanca have tightened control over the places where migrants cross due to a surge in irregular migration attempts in recent weeks.

The past weeks have seen numerous efforts at unauthorized migration on Casablanca’s coasts, especially at Mohammedia and Ain Sebaa.

The Royal Gendarmerie organized in recent days an operation in Paloma Beach in Casablanca, as a criminal organization prepared to send migrants using death boats.

Human trafficking organizations increase illegal operations along the Moroccan coasts, as more people try to migrate during the summer because of the good weather conditions.

Accordingly, it becomes more challenging for the border guards in Morocco and Europe to monitor the coastal beaches throughout the summer due to the flood of tourists and vacation seekers.  

This enables illicit migration groups to exploit this situation to make numerous attempts to migrate covertly across the sea lanes.

The emerging phenomenon of “climate migrants” has an adverse impact on forced migration, livelihoods, and societal resilience.

Human rights activists have been alerting the public to the threat posed by illegal migration, which puts migrant lives in danger and is incompatible with the Global Pact for Safe, Orderly, and Regular Migration.

The Pact, in which Morocco is part, ensures the respect, inclusion, and dignity of migrants.

The number of irregular migrants entering Spain decreased from 10,256 at the end of April 2022 to 6,525 during the same period in 2023, indicating a decline of 36.38%.

Notably, arrivals to the Canary Islands have decreased by 51.52%, whereas illegal immigration to the Spanish territory and the Balearic Islands has surged by 289%.