Morocco steps up coastal patrols to curb migrant crossings to Canary Islands

Morocco has intensified patrols along its southern coast to disrupt migrant smuggling routes to the Canary Islands. Drones and night-vision technology are being used to intercept smugglers before boats depart. Authorities say crossings have dropped sharply this year, though the vast coastline remains hard to police. Migrants from Senegal recount deadly journeys and the loss of loved ones at sea. Patrols continue along the Atlantic coast towards the Mauritanian border despite ongoing challenges. Al Jazeera’s Hashem Ahelbarra reports from Tan-Tan in southern Morocco. Leila Bodeux is a Senior Policy and Advocacy Officer, Asylum and Migration at Caritas Europa. She joins us from Brussels to discuss this. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #Morocco #Migration #CanaryIslands #MigrantSmuggling #BorderSecurity #PeopleTrafficking #AtlanticRoute #IrregularMigration #DroneSurveillance #Spain #CoastalPatrols #EuropeMigrationCrisis