Authorities foil mass migration attempt toward Ceuta, detain 5,000 people

Moroccan authorities have thwarted online calls for a mass irregular migration attempt and a coordinated storming of the border fence separating Morocco from the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, security sources told Hespress AR on Friday.

According to the same sources, around 5,000 people were detained across northern Morocco, including forests, coastal areas, and urban zones near Ceuta, following days of intensive operations led by multiple security bodies.

The operation involved units from the Royal Gendarmerie, the Royal Armed Forces, the Auxiliary Forces, and the National Police, working under the supervision of the relevant provincial and national authorities to prevent what officials described as an organized call for collective “harraga” (illegal crossings).

Of those detained, approximately 3,000 were Moroccan nationals, mostly young men and minors who had traveled from cities such as Beni Mellal, Khouribga, Errachidia, Tinghir, Casablanca, Rabat, and Kenitra, among others. Authorities said the individuals were transported back to their hometowns by bus.

The remaining 2,000 detainees were migrants from sub-Saharan African countries, who were relocated by authorities to areas in southern and eastern Morocco as part of broader migration management measures.

Over the past week, Moroccan security services have stepped up patrols and intelligence efforts across the Tangier-Tetouan region and nearby provinces. The coordinated actions effectively prevented any attempted mass breach of the Ceuta border on October 15, a date circulated on social media by groups inciting irregular migration.

Officials described the operation as part of Morocco’s comprehensive strategy to combat human trafficking and irregular migration networks, while maintaining border stability in coordination with international partners.