Key movements in the leadership of the National Police that, according to ministerial sources, "give a good account" of what are the security challenges that Spain faces. Changes in Immigration and the UDEF.
The General Directorate has agreed to send to Morocco – as the new Minister of the Interior at the Spanish Embassy – one of the greatest assets within the body in migratory movements and border control, the main commissioner Juan Enrique Taborda. A movement that has been applauded by the Moroccan police authorities with whom it is in charge of "strengthening and strengthening" collaboration in the fight against criminal organizations that traffic in human beings and against jihadist terrorism.
"He knows the reality of Morocco, he is one of the great European experts on migratory flows and, above all, Rabat trusts him because he provides results and efficiency," police sources explain about Taborda, who has been in charge of Immigration for nine years. First during the stage of Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba as head of the Interior and the last four years with Fernando Grande-Marlaska, who placed him in the position that he now leaves shortly after the ministry arrived. His movement is part of "the new time" sealed between Spain and Morocco after leaving behind months of diplomatic crisis. That yes, the relations between counterparts of Interior never got to short-circuit.
Both countries are aware that joint security cooperation is essential to deal with threats from the southern flank. In particular, the Maghreb, a "fertile ground for jihadism", as NATO recognized in its latest strategic concept. In this context, a high-level security and anti-terrorist meeting was held in Rabat last Wednesday, attended by the Spanish police leadership, according to sources close to the meeting. Director Francisco Pardo was accompanied by the General Commissioner of the Judicial Police, Rafael Pérez; the Information Commissioner, Eugenio Pereiro; the head of the international cooperation division, Alicia Malo, and Juan Enrique Taborda himself. On the other side of the table, the delegation was led by Abdelatif Hamuchi, general director of national security in Morocco.
In the conclave -which has taken place without the tragic jump to the Melilla fence that ended with more than twenty immigrants dead after being repressed with great harshness by the gendarmes- it was agreed to intensify the operation and intelligence so coordinated to fight against criminal organizations. The last operation against jihadism – which resulted in two presumed returnees being detained, one of them in Mataró – had the “key” collaboration of Morocco, the same sources recall.
The next movement in the National Police is to find a substitute for Taborda. The term of presentation of candidacies for the position was open until last Friday. Interior sources explain that the forecast is to appoint whoever is elected in the last week of August or the first week of September. “Someone who has walked the field, who knows the priorities and who adapts the Immigration Police Station to the new needs and challenges, including digitization,” explains a police officer who is committed to continuity in the position.
