Moroccan police detained at least 111 individuals on Saturday as they tried to cross into Spain’s North African enclave of Ceuta, amid intensified security measures on both sides of the border. This crackdown follows social media campaigns urging another large-scale migrant crossing.
The attempted crossing occurred just two weeks after over 72,000 migrants surged toward Ceuta, heightening tensions within the European Union and fueling anti-immigration rhetoric among far-right groups worldwide. Tragically, at least 96 people lost their lives trying to reach European territory during that wave.
Among those arrested were 109 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and two Moroccan nationals, apprehended in or near Fnideq, the Moroccan city opposite Ceuta. Moroccan police reportedly used tear gas to disperse groups gathered on hills approximately 3 kilometers from the border.
Later, hundreds of police officers, some in riot gear and others in plain clothes, were seen returning from the hills outside Fnideq. Meanwhile, Moroccan authorities ordered journalists from Spanish media to leave Fnideq immediately without providing an explanation.
In Ceuta, Spanish soldiers guarded supermarkets while police maintained a strong presence on the enclave’s main streets. The atmosphere was calmer compared to the days following the deadly crossing attempt on July 30.
Madrid has responded by installing a maritime barrier and deploying over 500 additional police officers from mainland Spain, increasing the total security force in Ceuta to more than 1,600 personnel. The Interior Ministry confirmed these reinforcements will stay as long as necessary.
Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska emphasized the government’s commitment to restoring order swiftly and preventing incidents like those on July 30 from recurring. He noted that around 5,000 migrants remain in Ceuta, many sheltering under makeshift bamboo structures on the urban beach of El Trampolin to escape the intense heat.
Grande-Marlaska also clarified that migrants who enter irregularly will generally not be allowed to stay in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, except in exceptional cases involving extreme vulnerability. Those without legal rights to remain will be returned to Morocco.
In a significant development, Moroccan authorities announced they are monitoring social media posts and messages encouraging a mass crossing on August 15 and warned that organizers and participants would face prosecution. Security near the border has been reinforced with police vans equipped with wire shields and road checkpoints, with similar measures reported near Spain’s other North African enclave, Melilla.
Authorities have also prevented several groups from boarding trains and buses heading to northern Morocco in cities such as Casablanca, Fez, and Kenitra. However, some migrants from sub-Saharan Africa have reportedly circumvented these checkpoints by taking mountain routes toward Fnideq. Schools in Fnideq have been repurposed to accommodate security forces deployed near the border.
Many young migrants who entered Ceuta on July 30 were seen fishing, swimming, or washing at Tarajal beach on Friday. Driss Sadik, 22, from Fez, who swam for five hours to reach Ceuta, advised others against attempting the crossing, warning of the suffering involved.
His caution was echoed by 17-year-old Adil Jamil, who explained that mass crossings are organized by individuals who select a date and gather migrants in Fnideq to cross together for safety in numbers. Jamil expressed that although staying with his parents would mean a slow death, risking his life to reach Europe offers a chance to build a better future.
