Morocco’s crackdown on irregular migration continues to combat human trafficking that impacts the lives of thousands of migrants seeking better economic opportunities abroad.
Rabat – Morocco’s judicial police arrested on Friday two suspects for their alleged links with a criminal network active in the organization of irregular migration in Laayoune.
The suspects, aged 32 and 41, are also facing charges of trafficking alcoholic beverages, Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) said in a statement.
The press release said the two suspects have multiple criminal records.
Judicial police in Laayoune arrested the two defendants upon receiving precise information from the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST).
Investigations enabled police to seize a rubber dinghy used in irregular migration operations, as well as two cars and alcoholic beverages intended for trafficking.
One of the suspect was the subject of a search notice at the national level for his involvement in organizing undocumented migration. Police issued the warrant against the suspect following an operation, leading to the dismantling of a criminal network active in this area.
The second suspect is wanted for the illegal trafficking of alcoholic beverages and cannabis.
Police put the suspects in custody for further investigation to arrest possible additional defendants involved in the case.
The operation is part of Morocco’s approach to crack down on undocumented migration and human trafficking at the national and international level.
This year, the country also foiled a score of irregular operation, one of which was on June 11 in the city of Laayoune.
In the operation, police arrested four suspects for their alleged links with a criminal network active in undocumented migration and fraud.
The DGSN’s 2019 annual report said that Morocco arrested 505 criminal organizers of undocumented migration involved in 62 criminal networks that traffick people illegally.
Security operations against irregular migration led to the arrest of 27,317 would-be migrants, including 20,141 of foreign nationality. Moroccans represented 26% of those arrested, the DGSN reported.
