Spain and Morocco enhance maritime security with joint patrols

Thursday 27 March 2025 - 15:50

By: Dakir Madiha

Spain and Morocco enhance maritime security with joint patrols

In a significant move to bolster maritime security cooperation, the Spanish Civil Guard (GCE) and the Moroccan Royal Gendarmerie (GRM) have initiated joint patrols around Las Palmas in the Canary Islands. This initiative aims to combat criminal networks facilitating irregular migration from Morocco to the islands.

The collaborative effort, which includes personnel from both forces, was formalized during a delegation visit of Moroccan gendarmes to the headquarters of the General State Administration on Lanzarote, where they were welcomed by the island's director.

These joint operations are the result of strategic planning based on shared intelligence, focusing particularly on the activities of criminal organizations involved in human trafficking. These groups are known to facilitate perilous boat departures from the Moroccan coast towards the Canary Islands, utilizing extremely dangerous routes across the Atlantic.

"The primary mission is to safeguard the lives of those tempted to undertake hazardous maritime journeys," emphasized the Spanish Civil Guard, highlighting the humanitarian aspect of the initiative.

The operations will concentrate on key areas identified for the embarkation and disembarkation of migrants, aiming to deter these networks and prevent further departures. Beyond its immediate impact on border control, this collaboration is expected to help curtail the connections between criminal organizations operating on both sides of the Strait.

Both institutions stress that such joint patrols signify a step towards a more effective and humane approach to migration management, focusing on the preservation of national security while safeguarding the rights and lives of vulnerable individuals.

The ongoing operations strengthen the strategic alliance between Spain and Morocco in the realm of security and set a precedent for future coordinated actions in migration management and the fight against organized crime.