Spain pledges to transfer 200 night vision goggles to Morocco for border security

Spain has approved the transfer of 200 state-of-the-art night vision goggles to Morocco, according to the Iberian news outlet OKDiario.

This new equipment is aimed at assisting the Moroccan Gendarmerie in surveillance efforts against immigration and drug trafficking in the waters of the Strait.

According to the same source, the contract was overseen by the International and Ibero-American Foundation for Public Policy Administration (FIIAPP). These 200-night vision goggles, designed to facilitate surveillance in low-light conditions, were procured from the Bulgarian firm Opticonelectron Group for 847,000 euros.

The source specified that this agreement is part of the “Support to Integrated Border Management and Migration in Morocco” project, which is intended for the Moroccan Ministry of the Interior.

As per OK Diario’s findings, the contract included a “technical guarantee, training service, and delivery in Morocco.”

The formalization of the contract, expedited to ensure readiness before Sanchez visited Rabat last February, was finalized on March 23rd.

This transfer follows other recent transfers from Spain to Morocco, including five Vanguard TX fast boats with 700 horsepower in 2022.

“A fleet of rigid inflatables made entirely to measure for surveillance tasks on Europe’s southern border,” as explained by the manufacturer.

This gesture represents the mutual commitment of Morocco and Spain to defend their common borders and ensure the security of their citizens.

However, the transfer seems to have drawn criticism from the Spanish media. According to the same source, this equipment is part of what the Civil Guard has been requesting as reinforcement in its fight against drug trafficking and boats in the Strait’s waters.

The Spanish Civil Guard cited obsolete equipment, faulty battery charging, and potential harm to operators’ vision due to outdated gear, stated the same source.