The Tetouan Court of First Instance convicted and sentenced 53 individuals on Wednesday for facilitating illegal migration at Morocco’s northern border.
The court found that the defendants were guilty of encouraging others to resist law enforcement during migration attempts and using automated systems to facilitate illegal border crossings.
The convicted individuals include several foreign nationals from Rwanda, Ivory Coast, Guinea, Gambia, and Senegal.
The court handed down sentences ranging from 2 to 9 months in prison. It also imposed fines of between MAD 1,000 and MAD 5,000 (approximately USD 100 to USD 500). The defendants had been held in custody pending trial.
Moroccan authorities continue to crack down on illegal migration attempts at the border with Spanish-occupied enclave Sebta.
There has been a surge in migrant activity in recent weeks, with officials reporting that roughly 3,000 individuals in September alone tried to enter the enclave illegally.
Moroccan authorities foiled over 11,300 irregular migration attempts in August, and more than 150 people are currently facing charges of promoting illegal migration, according to official data.