Rabat- Attempts at irregular migration continue to pressure Moroccan authorities and make headlines in Morocco.
In a patrol mission on Saturday, the navy rescued the irregular migrants, Moroccans and sub-Saharan Africans sailing from Nador in northeast Morocco and Tangier together in makeshift boats, reported Maghreb Arab Press (MAP).
The navy units successfully returned the migrants to Ksar Sghir in Tangier and Nador in the Rif region.
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As the Moroccan government continues to fight irregular migration through road and sea to Europe, many Moroccan migrants are persistent in trying to leave the country.
Since September, when a young woman named Hayat died from navy gunfire while on a migrant speed boat, Moroccans have protested the harsh measure and the government has reported on large numbers of intercepted immigrants.
Late in October, the Moroccan navy intercepted four boats carrying 143 migrants off the coasts of Tangier and Nador.
EU officials announced earlier in October they would seek to extend economic and logistic support to help Morocco curb irregular immigration. Authorities also stated that current irregular migration attempts had surged 150 percent along the western Mediterranean route from the levels recorded between 2003 and 2015.
