Morocco Stops 294 Migrants at Ceuta Border; 61 Arrested for Incitement

Moroccan security forces intercepted 294 migrants on Saturday as they attempted to reach the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, according to Moroccan security sources cited by the EFE news agency. The operation also led to the arrest of 61 people suspected of using social media to incite and promote irregular migration. The intercepted group included 248 sub-Saharan migrants and 46 Moroccan nationals. The incident took place in a mountainous area near the town of Fnideq, also known as Castillejos, southwest of Ceuta. Security forces used tear gas and helicopters to disperse the migrants, who remain in the area. After journalists from EFE and RTVE captured images of the police action, the local representative of Morocco’s Interior Ministry ordered them to leave Castillejos, threatening to revoke their credentials and equipment. They were subsequently expelled. This attempt follows a call on social media for a new mass crossing on Saturday, August 15. The call came after the tragic events of July 30 and 31, when tens of thousands of people crossed into Ceuta by foot or by swimming, resulting in at least 141 deaths, according to humanitarian organizations. Saturday’s movements occurred after a calm night at the border, which saw a heavy police presence. Controls remain in place on main roads leading to Castillejos, especially those from Tetuán and Tangier. Dense fog covered the border area overnight, but no significant movements toward the fence or the coast were reported. Surveillance was intensified with fast boats from the Royal Moroccan Navy and drones. The Tarajal border crossing has been quiet since early Saturday morning. Morocco has deployed thousands of auxiliary forces and Gendarmerie officers, along with six semi-rigid boats at sea. A new metal barrier, about four meters high, has been installed near the border this week to prevent large groups from approaching. Security checks have also been extended to Castillejos, just two kilometers from the border. One resident who recently traveled to Morocco said, "Castillejos is taken over by the military and the gendarmes." On the Spanish side, the Guardia Civil’s Maritime Service is patrolling the sea, while military and National Police officers control the land border. This joint reinforcement follows the mass entry of 80,000 people on July 30, as reported by Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles during her visit to Ceuta on Wednesday.