Rabat: Agencies
The Moroccan authorities revealed that during the first nine months of this year, they were able to thwart 48,963 attempts to smuggle migrants.
A report by the Moroccan Ministry of Interior said that the services concerned with combating migrant smuggling networks were able to dismantle 210 criminal networks and thwart 48,963 attempts to smuggle migrants.
The report explained that the Royal Moroccan Navy was able during the same period of this year to rescue 14,260 people from drowning, and provide them with assistance and support, of national and foreign nationalities, while they were trying to cross "illegally" via boats towards the northern shore of the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean. According to what was reported by the Al-Youm Al-Sabea news website in Cairo
The report, which was referred to the Moroccan parliament as part of the discussion of the Moroccan Ministry of Interior's sub-budget, added that 4,388 immigrants were voluntarily deported to their countries of origin, including 1,664 immigrants in coordination with the International Organization for Migration in Morocco.
The report indicated that the security authorities concerned with combating the crime of migrant smuggling have doubled their efforts this year to confront criminal networks active in the field of migrant smuggling and human trafficking, in accordance with the laws in force. It explained that the Moroccan Ministry of Interior has continued to strengthen partnerships with various regional and national partners, especially European ones, in the field of strengthening and monitoring borders and combating the crimes of migrant smuggling and human trafficking.