Two groups of 68 and 65 illegal migrants were arrested north of the fishing village Imoutlane (140 km from Dakhla) under the municipality of Bir Inzarane, the same source said.

These individuals, all natives of several cities in the Kingdom, were apprehended thanks to the strengthening of the surveillance of the coast and the intervention of elements of the Royal Gendarmerie, as part of the sweep operations conducted regularly to fight against the phenomenon of illegal immigration, the source added.

An investigation has been opened by the competent authorities, under the supervision of the prosecutor's office, to determine the circumstances of the organization of this illegal immigration operation.

The security services have recently intensified the control operations of illegal immigration attempts in the region of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab having allowed several arrests and rescues of boats in the open sea.