Morocco thwarts Sub-Saharans attempt to illegally cross over to Europe

The Moroccan Gendarmerie foiled Sunday and Monday an attempt by 49 Sub-Saharans to illegally cross to the Canary Islands, local authorities said in a release.

The illegal immigrants are mostly Malians and Ghanaians. Their arrest is part of operations carried out along Moroccan shores and in the desert to fight illegal immigration.

Since January, Some 3,769 illegal immigrants were arrested in Laayoune alone.

On Monday, a court in Fez (east of Rabat) ordered the repatriation of 29 Mauritanian and Senegalese illegal immigrants to their home countries. The defendants were also condemned to a two month suspended sentence and a 500 Dhs (USD 50) fine each.

Morocco said Saturday it is waging a permanent struggle and deploying considerable logistical, material and human efforts to curb the phenomenon of illegal immigration.