Ongoing operations to combat irregular migration have been taking place for several days in northern Morocco, targeting groups of migrants hiding in forests and coastal areas.

According to sources consulted by Hespress, the operations extend from Tangier to Fnideq–M’diq, leading to the interception of around one hundred irregular migration candidates, particularly in the forested areas of the provinces of Fahs-Anjra and Fnideq-M’diq.

The same sources indicate that the migrants are mainly from sub-Saharan Africa, with the total number of those intercepted exceeding 800 individuals. They are expected to undergo the administrative procedures applicable in such cases.

These operations are being carried out through the coordinated efforts of several security forces, including the Royal Gendarmerie, National Police, Auxiliary Forces, local authorities, and border guards.

Once intercepted, the migrants are often transferred to other regions farther from northern Morocco. According to the sources, they are redirected to provinces such as Zagora or Tinghir, located in the southeast of the country.

So far, these transfer operations have involved around 300 irregular migration candidates, without them being pushed back at the border or deported. Morocco continues to deploy multiple strategies to contain irregular migration toward European shores.

Interventions by various security actors take place in multiple locations, including train stations, forests, bushlands, highways, and other transit points commonly used by migrants attempting to reach the coast or the border fence separating Fnideq from the city of Ceuta.

Significant security measures have been mobilized to dismantle makeshift camps used by migrant groups operating within smuggling networks. These groups often hide in remote and hard-to-access forest areas to evade authorities.

Public authorities have implemented sweeping operations across forest zones and mountainous routes, frequently using helicopters to locate informal migrant camps.