Royal Navy units aborted on Thursday two irregular migration attempts of 415 attempted illegal immigrants–all from Sub-Saharan Africa—off the coast of Dakhla in Southern Morocco, reported military sources.
The first one, located 290 km south of Dakhla, was a pirogue carrying 274 illegal migrants, including 200 Senegalese, 66 Gambians, three from Guinea-Conakry, two Malians, and one Sierra-Leonean.
Those involved in the scheme had hopes of reaching the Canary Islands after their departure from Senegal six days earlier.
The second one, a craft carrying 141 Senegalese candidates for irregular migration, was situated 40 km southwest of Dakhla.
The boat left the Senegalese town of Mbour on October 19, also in an attempt to reach the Canaries.
Upon successful operations, each migrant rescued received immediate medical care. They were later handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie for routine procedures.
Morocco has become a major transit country for illegal migrants, notably those from Sub-Saharan Africa trying to reach Europe.
Every week, coast guards and police units apprehend dozens of unauthorized migrants in the Kingdom’s coastal waters en route to European lands.