Moroccan authorities investigate drug smuggling tunnel near Ceuta border

Moroccan security forces, including the Royal Gendarmerie and National Police, supported by Civil Protection units, have launched excavation operations near the border with the Spanish enclave of Ceuta.

The operations, taking place in the “Arroyo de las Bombas” area, aim to locate an exit to a suspected tunnel used for smuggling hashish between Morocco and Ceuta.

According to the Spanish newspaper El Faro de Ceuta, this effort is part of a joint investigation with Spanish authorities under “Operation Hades,” targeting cross-border drug trafficking networks. The newspaper published images showing security personnel conducting searches in the area.

Over the past week, Moroccan teams have continued field surveys using advanced technology, including sensors and cameras, to identify potential tunnel exits. Recent excavations, carried out with secrecy, have focused on a location in the Tarajal area, where initial measurements suggested a link between the tunnel and nearby warehouses.

A second excavation, conducted on Sunday, reinforced the possibility of the tunnel connecting to a nearby shack. Civil Protection teams, equipped with specialized equipment, entered both excavation sites for further inspection.

Spanish and Moroccan security officials, including representatives from Spain’s Internal Affairs Unit and the Civil Guard’s military attaché in Morocco, have met in recent days to coordinate efforts.

A specialized underground reconnaissance unit from the Spanish Civil Guard is expected to arrive soon to verify the tunnel’s cross-border connection, following an official request for judicial and political cooperation.

Initial findings indicate that the tunnel, discovered earlier this year by the Spanish Civil Guard, may have multiple exits. Spanish authorities have already arrested 14 individuals as part of the investigation, with efforts ongoing to track down the remaining members of the smuggling network.