Spain‑Morocco cooperation curbs hashish flow and migrant arrivals in the Strait of Gibraltar

Spanish and Moroccan security forces intercepted a fast‑moving narcotics vessel in the Strait of Gibraltar, seizing about 4,800 kg of hashish. The joint operation by the Royal Moroccan Gendarmerie and Spain’s Guardia Civil prevented the shipment from reaching European markets and highlighted intensified maritime cooperation against drug traffickers.

The same corridor saw a dramatic drop in migrant crossings. According to the 2026 annual report of the Spanish Commission for Refugee Aid (CEAR), arrivals by sea via the Gibraltar Strait fell to 347 people in 2025 – just 1 % of Spain’s total migrant entries. CEAR attributes the decline to “the rise of anti‑migration policies worldwide,” noting that tighter controls in Mauritania have redirected flows toward more hazardous Mediterranean routes.