Rabat – Security forces in Spain’s Algeciras port found the body of a Moroccan woman in the trunk of a car entering from Morocco on Saturday evening.
The woman died from suffocation when her brother tried to smuggle her in the trunk of his car.
Sources close to the victim said that the brother decided to transport her illegally in his trunk as she was trying to cross into Spain. Upon arrival at the port, security forces decided to inspect his car, coming upon the body.
Morocco’s embassy in Spain reportedly intervened to help with the necessary legal procedures and to assist in transporting the victim back to Morocco to be buried in her hometown of Tinghir, in central-eastern Morocco.
Spanish authorities arrested the brother for attempting to illegally enter someone into the country, as well as for involuntary manslaughter. Moroccan authorities have also opened an investigation into how the vehicle passed Moroccan borders.
Irregular migration from Morocco to Spain has declined in recent months, in light of the improving relations and collaborative efforts between the two countries.
Nevertheless, the management of irregular migration remains one of the two countries’ most significant common-challenges, and one of the biggest areas of cooperation between them.
Earlier this month, the EU pledged €500 million in financial aid to help support Morocco’s migration management efforts.
In addition to managing migration in its sea ports, the North African country also collaborates with Spain to control the borders with the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla.
