Ceuta: FT Reveals Unprecedented Migrant Surge Fueled by Organizers and Social Media

An unprecedented wave of migrants has entered the Spanish enclave of Ceuta from Morocco, with tens of thousands crossing the border or swimming in within a matter of hours, causing significant concern across Europe. Madrid attributes the influx to smuggling networks, while Italy has suspended the Schengen Treaty with Spain and Portugal, and France is intensifying border checks.

According to a report by the Financial Times, the mass movement was not spontaneous but appeared to be the result of organized preparation. Days before the large-scale arrival, approximately 1,800 individuals managed to reach Ceuta by swimming around a breakwater, effectively paving the way for subsequent crossings.

A Moroccan swimming instructor told the newspaper that many interested individuals were taking lessons or practicing independently to acquire the necessary skills for the sea crossing. Simultaneously, social media groups emerged where information about the route, weather conditions, and sea currents was exchanged. Users posted advertisements for flippers, diving suits, and other equipment to aid the passage, and shared maps indicating the route to Tarajal beach in Ceuta.

In the early hours of Thursday, thousands converged on the border, arriving by foot, bicycle, car, and truck, causing traffic congestion on the Moroccan side. From there, they headed to the coast, placed their mobile phones in waterproof cases, and entered the sea aiming for Spanish territory. Some even recorded their entire journey with cameras and phones.

On the Spanish side, many arrived injured from the rocks. Border guards observed the situation without preventing disembarkation. Spanish authorities reported that at least 57 people lost their lives attempting to cross the sea. The reception center in Ceuta was already over capacity and remained closed, leaving many new arrivals in open spaces under the supervision of police and the Red Cross.