Morocco’s Royal Navy Intercepts Boat Carrying 201 Migrants Off Dakhla

Rabat – Morocco’s Royal Navy intercepted a boat carrying 201 people who were attempting to reach the Canary Islands through an irregular migration route, authorities said Saturday.

The operation took place about 185 kilometers southwest of Dakhla, according to a statement from the General Staff of the Royal Armed Forces.

The group included women and minors. Royal Navy units brought all 201 passengers safely ashore at the fishing village of Roc-Chico, located about 190 kilometers southwest of Dakhla.

The passengers received medical care aboard the naval units before authorities handed them over to the Royal Gendarmerie for standard administrative procedures, the statement said.

The interception comes as the Atlantic route toward the Canary Islands remains an active migration corridor, with boats departing from parts of the West African and Moroccan Atlantic coasts in attempts to reach the Spanish archipelago.

The latest interception comes as migration remains a major concern along Morocco’s northern and Atlantic coastlines, following the mass arrival in Ceuta at the end of July. 

The episode saw tens of thousands of people attempt to reach the Spanish enclave, creating a major humanitarian and security crisis.

Moroccan authorities subsequently stepped up measures along the country’s northern border to prevent further mass crossings. 

Security forces also moved to disrupt new attempts after calls circulated online for another mass entry into Ceuta, with Moroccan authorities intercepting hundreds of people before they could reach the border.

Morocco’s role has extended beyond the immediate Ceuta crisis. Its security and naval forces have continued to monitor the country’s Atlantic coastline and intercept boats bound for the Canary Islands, while also assisting people found at sea.