Published 7 November 2024 at 12.40
Foreign. The Moroccan navy has foiled an attempted hijacking in which illegal immigrants tried to force a cargo ship to steer towards the Canary Islands, which have become an increasingly popular haven for migrants trying to reach Europe from West Africa.
Share the article
TwittraShare
The incident occurred on Monday off the southern coast of Morocco when a vessel registered in Liberia sent out a distress call. The crew announced that a group of 54 illegal immigrants on board threatened them and demanded that the ship head for the Spanish islands.
According to a statement from the Royal Moroccan Navy General Staff, the alarm reached Morocco's maritime rescue center in Rabat. The vessel was then approximately 110 kilometers off the coast at Tan-Tan, and the critical situation required rapid intervention.
Two units from the navy, including a commando task force, were dispatched to board the cargo ship. The authorities managed to secure the crew without violence and took the migrants into custody. They were later transported to the port of Tan-Tan where they were handed over to the Royal Gendarmerie for further handling.
The incident recalls a similar incident in October last year when illegal immigrants were arrested after attempting to hijack a Dutch ship off Coast of Morocco.