Rabat– The General Direction of National Safety (DGSN) has dismantled a criminal network involved in irregular migration and seized their equipment.
DGSN and judicial police from Tangier and Assilah, an Atlantic coastal town, dismantled the criminal network Wednesday night, according to state-owned media outlet Maghreb Arab Press (MAP). The police arrested 19 migrants, 1 intermediary, and 3 alleged organizers.
Tangier police also uncovered equipment used for irregular emigration, following the arrests. They seized a seven-meter zodiac, two paddles, one engine, and five safety jackets.
The DGSN is still investigating the group in collaboration with Tangier police to find more suspects and any links to other national or international criminal networks.
The arrests come at a tense time as the royal navy fired on a “hostile” migrant boat on Wednesday, injuring 16 year-old Ilyas Amrani. On September 25, the navy, in another attempt to intercept a “hostile” migrant boat, also killed 20-year-old Hayat Belkacem, and injured Lahbib (26), Hamza (25), and Mouad (23).
Increasing migration attempts have put pressure on the navy to use controversially aggressive measures.
