Europol Intensifies Border Checks to Catch Moroccan Fugitives in Ceuta and Melilla

With the help of the Spanish police, Europol is currently conducting control operations at the Ceuta and Melilla borders with Morocco in search of Moroccans suspected of having committed offenses and/or crimes in Europe. In this context, the agents are carrying out a thorough search of people and vehicles at the border crossings of the two autonomous cities with Morocco, reports Assabah.

The operation began in early June, coinciding with the launch of the Marhaba Operation which allows Moroccans living abroad to join Morocco for their summer vacation. State-of-the-art electronic equipment (fiber optic devices and facial recognition, cameras) has been deployed at these border crossings to apprehend the Moroccans living abroad wanted for various crimes and offenses in Europe.

This reinforced control has borne fruit. The Spanish authorities announced the arrest on Wednesday at one of the border crossings of a Moroccan living abroad wanted for homicide by the Italian judicial authorities. A Belgian national, wanted by the authorities of his country for various offenses, was also arrested at the maritime border of Tarifa, while trying to return to Morocco. The arrested persons will be handed over to the Italian and Belgian authorities.