Morocco’s Royal Navy aborted an illegal migration attempt off the Atlantic coast of Tarfya in the southern provinces, authorities said.
The operation led to the arrest of 40 would-be migrants, mostly from Sub-Saharan Africa, including 12 women.
The sea washed up the bodies of seven Sub-Saharans, including five women, authorities said through official media.
The intercepted migrants will undergo a coronavirus test while an investigation have been opened into this case.
The migration attempt from southern Morocco is reflective of a trend that has been on the rise in recent years after a crackdown on illegal migration networks in Northern Morocco.
Last year, Morocco foiled some 27,000 illegal migration attempts.
