Morocco Halts 45,000 Migrants from Crossing to Europe in 2024

Morocco has successfully stopped 45,015 migrants from illegally entering Europe since January 2024, Arab News reported today. The country has also dismantled 177 trafficking gangs during this period. In comparison, Morocco intercepted 75,184 migrants in 2023, marking a 6% increase from the previous year.

Additionally, the Moroccan navy has rescued 10,859 migrants at sea so far this year. The interior ministry attributes the ongoing migratory pressure to instability in the Sahel region and porous borders. Morocco has long served as a key departure point for African migrants seeking to reach Europe via the Mediterranean, Atlantic, or by scaling the fences of Spain’s Ceuta and Melilla enclaves.

Following improved cooperation with Spain to tackle illegal migration, recent reports indicate that hundreds of migrants managed to swim to Ceuta last month, taking advantage of thick mist. As border surveillance tightens, more migrants are opting for the perilous Atlantic route to the Canary Islands.