Spain arrests 61 Moroccan would-be emigrants

Spain's Guardia Civil arrested Thursday nearly 100 illegal emigrants, including 61 Moroccans, who were attempting to clandestinely cross to Spain onboard two dinghies.

The first makeshift boat, carrying 61 Moroccans, was detected by surveillance systems offshore Tarifa (southern Spain), said official sources. The group was transferred to a center for illegal emigrants, prior to its repatriation to Morocco.

The second dinghy was carrying 37 Sub-Saharan would-be emigrants and a Moroccan who organized the operation.

Thousands of illegal emigrants risk their life annually to cross to Europe through makeshift boats.

Spain and Morocco have placed the crack down on illegal emigration among their top priorities. They are cooperating together to fight this phenomenon.

In 2004, Rabat aborted over 26,000 attempts of illegal emigration and dismantled 423 human smuggling networks.