RABAT: Morocco, struggling with an influx of African migrants seeking passage to nearby Europe, on Thursday imposed a new rule requiring such travelers to fill out an online travel form for approval at least 96 hours before leaving home.
The procedure on a website carrying the Moroccan Foreign Ministry logo applies to a range of African countries whose citizens currently can enter Morocco without visas, except for Algeria and Tunisia.
The North African country has been grappling with a surge in migrants, arriving mainly on flights into Casablanca. Many intend to get into Europe and claim asylum by taking boats across a narrow Mediterranean strait to Spain, or scaling fences into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta or Melilla bordering Morocco.
The new procedure “aims to facilitate passenger traffic ... It will help Moroccan authorities know in advance the identity of travelers before boarding (planes),” reads a document issued by Morocco’s embassy in Mali and seen by Reuters.
Morocco has come under European Union pressure to reduce crossings of illegal migrants to Spain and wants Rabat to set up “disembarkation platforms” — centers where migrants’ asylum applications would be processed. Morocco has rejected the idea.
In Africa, Morocco offers visa-free entry to the nationals of Algeria, Tunisia, Mali, Niger, Senegal, Guinea Conakry, Congo Brazzaville, Gabon and Ivory Coast.
The new travel regulation took effect on Thursday for citizens of Congo Brazzaville, Guinea Conakry and Mali, according to a document from the Moroccan airline RAM.
Mali, Guinea and to a lesser extent Congolese nationals comprise the bulk of Europe-bound migrants coming to Morocco.
More than 40,000 African migrants have reached Spain’s southern Andalucia coast by sea from Morocco since January.
Morocco imposes online entry permit rule for African travelers
Morocco imposes online entry permit rule for African travelers
- The procedure applies to a range of African countries whose citizens currently can enter Morocco without visas
- Morocco has been grappling with a surge in migrants, arriving mainly on flights into Casablanca
Jordanian anti-drugs authorities arrest 35 suspects in nationwide raids
- Public Security Directorate said suspects are linked to 13 criminal cases involving drugs and weapons
- In the capital, Amman, authorities handled seven major drug-related cases
LONDON: The Jordanian Anti-Narcotics Department arrested 35 suspects nationwide for drug production, dealing and smuggling, while seizing large quantities of drugs and firearms.
The Public Security Directorate on Sunday said that the suspects are linked to 13 criminal cases involving drugs and weapons, the Petra news agency reported.
Security forces conducted raids targeting drug dealers and promoters in several governorates, including Ma’an, where 10 wanted dealers were arrested. Additionally, two dealers were apprehended in Zarqa, and four suspects were arrested in Ajloun. The security forces in the southern Shouneh district raided three locations, arresting two suspects involved in marijuana cultivation.
In Amman, authorities handled seven major cases. A drug dealer was arrested with 17,000 narcotic pills, another with 18 blocks of hashish, and three traffickers were caught after a chase, resulting in the seizure of five blocks of hashish, 500 narcotic pills, crystal meth, and a firearm.
The fourth case in Amman led to the seizure of 1.25 kilograms of crystal meth, while the fifth resulted in the arrest of two traffickers with 14 blocks of hashish. In the sixth case, four dealers were arrested with 5 kg of marijuana, and the final case involved the seizure of six blocks of hashish from a dealer.
Authorities raided a site in the Ramtha District used by a drug dealer for distributing crystal meth. They arrested the suspect and seized 1.5 kg of the substance. In Mafraq, authorities arrested three drug promoters who were found with 4,000 narcotic pills after being tracked and raided.
