Grande-Marlaska has assured before Laftit that the bilateral relationship between Spain and Morocco "is exemplary" in the field of Interior and highlighted "the daily joint work between our Security Forces", a cooperation that is reflected in areas such as the fight against mafias that traffic with people or operations against drug trafficking and terrorism.
The visit to Rabat is the first international trip made by Grande-Marlaska in this new legislature. This is also the eighth time the minister has met with Laftit since he assumed the Interior portfolio in June 2018.
Grande-Marlaska has made a positive balance of the cooperation maintained between Spain and Morocco throughout the year 2019 and has expressed its willingness to maintain joint work "along the same path of mutual trust" in this 2020. "Cooperation with Morocco in the field of Interior it is a priority for Spain, "said the Spanish minister.
Human trafficking
Grande-Marlaska has underlined the cooperation and support of the Moroccan authorities in the fight against mafia networks that traffic with people, a collaboration that has contributed to a 53.4 percent decrease in the number of irregular arrivals in Spain by sea in 2019 compared to the previous year.
The ministers of both countries have addressed in the framework of this cooperation climate the possible joint measures to strengthen the control of migratory flows in the Atlantic façade. Grande-Marlaska has pointed out the suitability of "increasing the exchange of information, essential to combat the activities of human trafficking networks" also in this geographical area.
He also indicated the will of the Government to continue transferring before the institutions of the European Union "the crucial importance as a strategic partner of Morocco, in migration matters and in many other areas".
The Spanish minister has also thanked Morocco's collaboration in the process of improvement and reinforcement of the border fences of Ceuta and Melilla.
Fight against terrorism
The meeting between Laftit and Grande-Marlaska has also served to address other issues such as the fight against terrorism. The Spanish minister has assured that the collaboration between Spain and Morocco "has not ceased to bear fruit."
"We must congratulate ourselves on the more than 21 joint operations against jihadist terrorism that our Security Forces have carried out since 2014," he said.
Drug trafficking
Grande-Marlaska has also highlighted "the numerous joint operations between our Security Forces against drug trafficking networks and organized crime groups located in Spain and Morocco."
The minister has shown Spain's interest in persevering and strengthening Hispanic-Moroccan cooperation against drug trafficking networks that operate between the two countries.
