Morocco dismantles 150 networks involved in irregular migration

The Moroccan police have dismantled 150 criminal networks that were active. These networks allegedly belonged to irregular migration organisations, an illegal movement that attempts to organise the movement of migrants outside the rules of the countries of origin or host countries.

According to a statement issued by the Directorate General of National Security, police forces have arrested more than 12,000 members of the network. It also pointed out that "national security interests were able to dismantle 150 criminal networks active in organising illegal immigration, arrest 415 organisers and mediators and arrest 12,231 candidates for irregular immigration".

Alongside this, the statement reported "the seizure of 742 forged travel documents, 67 rubber boats and 47 motors, as well as 65 vehicles suspected of being exploited for the purpose of illegal immigration of persons". These attempts by irregular migrants to try to reach European countries have been repeated in the assault on border fences or through illegal immigration boats that have been found active in the country's northern cities.

On the other hand, with regard to the fight against terrorism and the eradication of transnational crime, the judicial police reported the arrest of 38 persons suspected of involvement in terrorism and extremism. In this context, Morocco continues to adopt wide-ranging and strong security reforms, with a particular focus on security related to religious extremism.

It is for this reason that the Alawi kingdom continues to receive praise from the international community for its effectiveness in the fight against terrorism. In this regard, over the past 20 years Morocco has dismantled 199 terrorist cells allegedly linked to Daesh and has managed to reduce the number of cells considerably.