RABAT, July 8 (Xinhua) -- The Moroccan authorities have thwarted over 40,300 illegal immigration attempts since the beginning of 2019, the Moroccan news agency MAP said on Monday.
The figure represents a 25-percent increase from the same period of 2018, Khalid Zerouali, director of migration at the Interior Ministry, was quoted as saying.
The migrants' networks have become sophisticated, seeking new migration routes from south Casablanca, Zerouali said.
There are also attempts to reach the Canary Islands from the southern coasts of Morocco, he added.
Morocco has become a hub for African migrants who seek to reach Europe for a better life.
Last week, Zerouali represented Morocco in a meeting on "Cooperation between countries of origin, transit and destination in the field of border management" in Madrid in Spain, said the report.
"Morocco is under pressure," Zerouali said, adding that the "pressure exerted by the security forces in the north opens new fronts in the south" of his country.
"Morocco fully assumes its responsibilities on its territorial waters. The debate should focus on the fight against traffickers, as they are the ones who endanger the lives of migrants," he added.
