Morocco Joins Interpol-Led Counter-Terrorism Operation ‘Neptune’

Interpol announced Friday it has deployed agents in Mediterranean seaports in eight countries, including Morocco, to apprehend suspected terrorists during the summer tourist season.

Codenamed “Neptune,” the counter-terrorism operation aims to assist local authorities to identify foreign terrorists using Mediterranean maritime routes between North Africa and southern Europe. The operation also addresses threats from firearms, drugs, and human traffickers, Interpol stated.

The “Neptune” operation is led by Morocco, Algeria, Tunisia, Spain, Italy, and France, with the support of the World Customs Organization and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (FRONTEX).

According to Interpol, 4 suspected foreign terrorists and a missing person were found in the first week of the Neptune operation, after 350,000 searches were made in Interpol databases.

Interpol’s Counter Terrorism Director Patrick Stevens said, “While much of the world’s focus on border security has been on air and land borders, potential security threats from the sea receive less attention.”

“The issue of traveling foreign terrorist fighters is of concern to all INTERPOL member countries who continue to monitor the departure and return of their nationals to fight in various conflict zones : regional and global police cooperation has never been more essential against terrorism and transnational organized crime, which is why Operation Neptune is so important.”

TunisianMonitorOnline (Morocco World News)

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