Rabat – Hicham Mellati, director of criminal affairs, pardons, and crime monitoring at the Ministry of Justice, shared new data on Morocco’s efforts in addressing human trafficking.
Mellati said security services dismantled some 1,597 criminal networks between 2021 and 2025.
He shared the figures while presenting the national report on Morocco’s efforts to combat and prevent human trafficking.
Mellati reported 536 human trafficking cases between 2021 and 2025, stating that 816 people were prosecuted while 774 others were convicted.
The number of officially identified victims reached 988 during the same period, Mellati said, acknowledging that this period saw profound and ongoing structural changes in the national system for combating and preventing human trafficking.
Aicha El Iklil, a magistrate and head of the Human Trafficking Case Monitoring Unit, outlined Morocco’s efforts to strengthen the skills of public prosecutors, including those specializing in human trafficking cases, through specialized training and field visits to countries with proven experience in this area.
El Iklil, a magistrate attached to the Presidency of the Public Prosecution (PMP), said the organization is working on a practical guide on human trafficking, which will be published soon.
The guide will complement an existing publication on indicators for identifying child victims of trafficking.
Abdelouahed Al Atir, a representative of the Interministerial Delegation for Human Rights, described the report as an important step in the fight against human trafficking and recalled Morocco’s relevant international commitment in this area.
Morocco calls for new migration cooperation model
The report comes as Morocco continues to strengthen its efforts to address irregular migration while calling for a reassessment of existing cooperation frameworks.
In a speech at the opening of the legislative year, King Mohammed VI acknowledged that the current model of migration cooperation, including with Spain, had become outdated.
The monarch cited recurring crises and challenges related to irregular migration, referring to the recent Ceuta mass crossing of July.
The crisis triggered criticism and accusations from Spanish far-right politicians who have long weaponized similar crises to attack Rabat.
Some politicians went too far, using accusations of blackmail and describing the situation as a “hybrid war against Spain.”
In response to “irresponsible statements” by certain political and media circles and their blatant exploitation of the situation, the King stated that Morocco affirms “that this partnership is a sovereign choice and a voluntary commitment. It will never be subject to any pressure, threat, or blackmail.”
Official data show Morocco intercepted 73,640 irregular migration attempts in 2025, a 6.4% decline from the previous year.
