Two Moroccans arrested in Spain for smuggling migrants

Spanish authorities intercepted a Moroccan fishing vessel on July 23rd, in which they found six undocumented migrants attempting to enter the country, according to Yabiladi.

The Spanish Civil Guard’s Marine Service Unit became suspicious of the boat after it was apparently approaching the Cueta coast with no lights, which is allegedly an area notorious for being a migrant drop off point.

The officers initially only spotted 3 individuals on deck, however after closer inspection, a total of six hidden migrants were revealed to be below the deck. The boat was then seized, alongside €1,100 in cash and a GPS device.

One of the migrants purportedly had an ongoing arrest warrant and was apprehended with the smugglers, the others were handed over to the Spanish National Police.

The two fishermen are expected to appear in court, charged with migrant smuggling and immigration violations.

Maghrebi reported on the large spike in migrant sea arrivals affecting Spain, with the Canary Islands accounting for 46,843 out a total 61,372 individuals arriving on their coasts in 2024 alone, a 10.3% increase from the previous year. Morocco stood as the second largest origin of the migrants.

Smuggling networks seem to be the source of Spain’s ongoing issue, as the lucrative industry is said to make €10,000 per migrant, in some cases. Spanish authorities have made efforts in curbing smuggling rings, breaking up a particular group on October 24th of last year, who allegedly illegally moved at least 70 Syrian and Algerians into the country.

The seas between Morocco and Spain are often plagued with human trafficking, drug tracfficking, and migrant smuggling operations.

Moroccan and Spanish officials have recently met and struck a new security deal that sees stronger coordination between the two nations in tackling organised crime.

Yabiladi, Maghrebi