A public Facebook group with more than 20,000 members was used to share practical information for Moroccans planning to enter Ceuta irregularly, as Spanish and Moroccan media linked social media activity to the buildup before this week’s mass crossing.
The group, called Hraga Ceuta, featured posts ranging from Google Maps screenshots measuring the distance between the Tarajal border breakwater and nearby beaches to updates on sea conditions and advertisements for diving fins commonly used during long swims.
Members also shared photos of Ceuta’s coastline, asked about border security and exchanged advice before attempting the crossing.
One post showed a Google Maps measurement of the route alongside the maritime border, while another offered a pair of diving fins for sale in Casablanca.
Other users asked whether the sea was calm enough to cross or sought updates from people already near the border. One member, for example, asked about the situation in Fnideq, known in Spanish as Castillejos, saying they had heard “things are a little difficult” and wanted confirmation before setting off.
The group’s activity surfaced after thousands of migrants entered Ceuta in recent days by swimming around the Tarajal breakwater or crossing on foot, overwhelming Spanish authorities and triggering a large security operation involving the Civil Guard, National Police, Maritime Rescue, the Red Cross and the military.
Spanish and Moroccan media say Facebook was only one part of a broader online network used to spread information about the crossings. WhatsApp, Instagram and TikTok were also used to circulate messages encouraging people to head toward Fnideq.
Some of those messages contained false information. According to Spain’s EFE news agency, a woman who arrived in Fnideq with her daughters said they had traveled there after seeing a message on her phone claiming Spain had opened its border to undocumented migrants.
EFE also quoted a young Moroccan asking while running toward Ceuta whether it was true that people could enter Spain without papers, showing how messages circulating online and by word of mouth quickly convinced hundreds of people to gather near the border.
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