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Royal Navy Thwarts Migrant Voyage to Canary Islands

Thursday 18 January 2024 - 07:35

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In a recent incident, the Royal Navy of Morocco successfully intercepted a small inflatable boat carrying 53 migrants near Tan-Tan, as reported by the Royal Moroccan Armed Forces. The overcrowded vessel, located 55 km north of the port city, was en route to the Spanish Canary Islands when it was halted by a Moroccan naval ship.

Comprising 47 sub-Saharan Africans and 6 Moroccans, the migrants had set out in the perilous attempt to reach European shores. The Royal Navy promptly provided assistance on board their vessel before transferring both the boat and its occupants to Morocco's Royal Gendarmerie. Administrative procedures for the migrants, who undertook the hazardous Atlantic crossing, will now commence.

The surge in irregular migration from Morocco to Spain's Canary Islands in recent years has drawn attention. The Spanish archipelago, situated off the coast of Western Sahara, has become an increasingly attractive destination for migrants seeking entry into Europe. However, the journey is fraught with peril, as evidenced by a tragic incident earlier this month when at least 18 migrants lost their lives in a capsized boat while attempting to reach the islands.

This year alone, Moroccan authorities have intercepted over 37,000 migrants attempting to leave the country illegally. Despite the inherent risks, many migrants perceive the Canaries route as comparatively safer than the one across the Mediterranean to mainland Spain. As individuals continue to risk their lives at sea, naval interceptions are anticipated to persist as a common occurrence.