Spain to provide Morocco with 20 advanced surveillance systems to combat irregular migration

Spain has decided to provide Morocco with 20 sophisticated surveillance systems valued at 4.12 million euros as part of an initiative aimed at bolstering cooperation between the two countries and combating transnational crime, particularly irregular migration.

The Spanish Ministry of the Interior confirmed the full financing of the equipment, with the agreement signed on October 20. This followed an official approval of the acquisition in August. The initiative is designed to strengthen border control measures, which have already proven effective in curbing migrant crossings between the two countries.

The Ministry of the Interior explained that the surveillance systems are part of international police cooperation efforts to combat terrorism, human trafficking, drug trafficking, and other forms of transnational crime that threaten both domestic and international security.

Morocco has long been a key partner for Spain in managing migration, and the two countries have worked closely to address shared challenges, including human trafficking and organized crime. The Spanish Ministry also emphasized that the collaboration helped reduce the number of migrants last summer, despite attempts by migrants to breach the borders.

The announcement comes after the 22nd meeting of the Morocco-Spain Joint Permanent Group on Immigration, where both sides praised the success of their cooperation. In a joint statement, Spain’s Secretary of State for Security, Rafael Pérez Ruiz, thanked Morocco for its “commitment and efforts” in addressing these challenges. He also highlighted the “crucial” role played by Moroccan security forces in thwarting mass entry attempts organized via social media in September.

Pérez Ruiz also pointed to the decline in irregular migration across the Strait of Gibraltar, the Alboran Sea, and the Canary Islands as a testament to the effectiveness of the partnership.

“The statistics reflect both the migratory pressure between Africa and Europe and the success of our cooperation,” Pérez Ruiz said.

The statement concluded by emphasizing the “exemplary cooperation” between the two countries and underscoring Spain’s continued commitment to developing policies for the integration of migrants.