Rabat – Moroccan authorities intercepted a large group of irregular migrants from sub-Saharan Africa late Sunday night as they attempted to reach Fnideq and cross into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.
According to converging reports, Royal Gendarmerie forces apprehended approximately 140 migrants along the highway connecting Larache to Tangier. The number is far above what is usually recorded on this corridor.
Additional control operations at railway stations from Ksar El Kebir to Tangier, including Assilah, led to further arrests of individuals seeking passage toward the enclave.
Local media suggested that the migrants sought to take advantage of the security measures surrounding the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON) final in Rabat.
Despite these attempts, authorities maintained tight control over the border, ensuring that no group succeeded in breaching the perimeter.
The intercepted migrants were relocated to southern and eastern regions of the country, in accordance with national procedures, while authorities continue efforts to dismantle trafficking networks and prevent irregular migration.
Northern Morocco has remained a focal point of surveillance. In provinces such as Fahs-Anjra, M’diq-Fnideq, and Tanger-Assilah, patrols along forests and roadways operate daily to prevent crossings.
Moroccan authorities have disrupted nearly 49,000 migrant smuggling attempts and dismantled more than 210 criminal networks since the start of 2024, according to a government report presented to the House of Representatives on October 1.
The report notes that the Royal Navy assisted and rescued 14,260 people during attempted sea crossings toward the Mediterranean and Atlantic routes, while 4,388 migrants returned voluntarily to their home countries, including 1,664 through coordination with the International Organization for Migration in Morocco.