LISBON, Aug. 1 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's Navy said on Saturday that it is stepping up joint sea and land patrols along the country's southern border with the Maritime Police and the National Republican Guard (GNR).
According to a Navy statement, regular joint sea and land patrols have been launched in southern coastal areas to strengthen border surveillance, with a particular focus on detecting vessels suspected of involvement in irregular migration or other illicit activities.
Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro said on Friday that Portugal would not suspend the Schengen area's free movement rules in response to the recent migrant crisis in Ceuta. Instead, he said, the government would reinforce controls along the country's southern maritime and land borders.
Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the Mediterranean coast of North Africa bordering Morocco, experienced a large influx of migrants in recent days. Spanish media, citing government and police sources, reported on Friday that nearly 50,000 migrants had entered Ceuta illegally from Morocco during the previous 24 hours.
The Spanish government said on Saturday that none of the approximately 50,000 migrants who entered Ceuta illegally had been allowed to travel to mainland Spain. It added that more than 48,000 had already returned to Morocco and that the migrant crisis was largely under control. ■