Africans, including Moroccans, can pay smugglers anywhere from 800 to 1000 euros in a gamble that includes risking their own lives. Much of the smuggling occurs with unfit motorboats that can hold 10 but carry groups of 20 or more into the Canary Islands or across the Straight of Gibraltar. As little as eight years ago most of these clandestine immigrants were Moroccan; nowadays the trend has shifted and nearly 80% of sub-Saharan Africans try their luck to make the often-deadly passage.

As reported by Magharebia in a report by the US State Department, human trafficking is a multi-billion dollar business, second only to drug smuggling. Morocco is facing a problem much like Spain in that floods of people are entering their country illegally. Africans from other nations believe that in Morocco they might have some sort of life and earn a living, waiting for their time to cross into Europe. But, for many, that flame is extinguished only after a few months begging in Morocco’s cities or being deported to the edge of the Algerian desert.

The UN is trying to help the escalating dilemma by offering professional training courses to immigrants involved so that they might return home with a skill instead of empty handed. Many of the immigrants in Morocco of yesteryear came legally, either by applying for asylum or by starting a university or schooling program. Most now enter through their only other option – by being trafficked.

Brought to you by: Journey Beyond Travel - Morocco Travel News

Source: Jamel, Arfaoui, Magharebia “Inside the world of illegal immigrants”