Morocco’s Auxiliary Forces (FA) responsible for coastal surveillance in the Tah commune in Laayoune-Boujdour-Sakia El Hamra in southern Morocco thwarted an illegal immigration attempt of 60 individuals on Sunday, according to local authorities in the Tarfaya province.
The would-be migrants reportedly threw stones at the Auxiliary Forces, who were forced to fire warning shots.
The FA members arrested eight Moroccan nationals and seized a zodiac boat equipped with a motor and two 25-liter fuel cans. The other migrants took advantage of the area’s rugged terrain and escaped.
Authorities also found the body of a Moroccan with a severe wound during the search operation in the area. The body was transported to the morgue at Moulay El Hassan Ben El Mehdi Hospital in Laayoune for an autopsy.
The Royal Gendarmerie, under the supervision of the competent prosecutor’s office, initiated a judicial investigation to uncover the details of the case.
Last month, Moroccan authorities foiled a mass migration attempt following a recent social media campaign urging large-scale migration to the city. 152 individuals were charged with involvement in incitement to illegal immigration on social media.
A Tetouan court has convicted five individuals for inciting the attempt. Two of the convicted received a sentence of six months in prison, while the remaining three were handed three-month jail terms.
Authorities have arrested another Algerian national for allegedly encouraging immigrants to assault the Sebta border fence via social media.
Morocco bolstered the presence of security forces in Fnideq, with videos circulating online showing heavy security deployment in the area.
However, authorities managed to return migrants home from Sebta on several buses. The forces also intercepted some individuals attempting to swim from Fnideq’s beach to reach the two enclaves.