Moroccan security forces intercepted 111 people seeking to migrate irregularly around Fnideq early Saturday, as a large security deployment prevented the mass crossings into Ceuta and Melilla promoted through anonymous social media calls, a security source told Hespress.
The group included 109 migrants from sub-Saharan Africa and two Moroccans. Authorities said there had been no mass breach around either enclave and described the security situation as calm and under control.
Around 300 migrants, mostly from sub-Saharan African countries, also gathered temporarily in mountainous areas surrounding Ceuta on Saturday morning but were prevented from approaching the enclave, with no violent clashes or material damage reported, according to local reports.
The operation follows days of heightened deployment around Fnideq, where Moroccan forces increased coastal surveillance, checkpoints and monitoring of routes leading toward Ceuta. Reuters observed Moroccan security personnel patrolling the coastline on Friday ahead of the planned mobilisation.
Authorities have also targeted the online organisation of the crossings. Security monitoring operations have led to the arrest of 61 people suspected of promoting or inciting mass irregular migration through social media in recent days.
Morocco’s Interior Ministry said earlier this week that security readiness around Ceuta and Melilla formed part of “continuous vigilance” rather than a response limited to Aug. 15.
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