Algeciras Mayor Calls for More Border Agents as Moroccan Travelers Surge

"The city of Algeciras and its port need more agents at the control posts to ensure the safety of citizens and foreigners," said Mayor Landaluce to Europa Sur. And he added: "We must respect national and international protocols on the protection of borders and foreigners, but at the same time, our agents must also have their breaks, rotations and vacations given the important work they are doing."

The mayor considers the 19 agents planned to reinforce their colleagues in Algeciras, out of the 137 requested by the Ministry of the Interior for Operation Marhaba throughout Spain, to be insufficient. The flow of Moroccans residing abroad arriving in Algeciras is very important during this outward phase. They are already 250,000 transiting through the port of the city, Landaluce assured. And the same flow will be observed during the return phase which starts at the end of this month of July.

For this reason, the mayor has asked the government to declare the Campo de Gibraltar "as a special area" in order to allow the security forces and bodies and the customs officers to do their work properly. Landaluce did not fail to thank the agents for "the excellent work" they are doing as well as for "their integrity and courage".