Morocco intercepts dozens of migrants attempting Ceuta crossing

Moroccan security forces apprehended approximately thirty migrants, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, on Saturday as they attempted to cross irregularly into the Spanish city of Ceuta. The detentions occurred in a mountainous area near Fnideq (Castillejos), where Moroccan forces prevented a large-scale attempt by several hundred migrants to reach Ceuta.

Many of those intercepted were reportedly carrying picks and other tools, believed to be intended for scaling the border fence of the Spanish enclave. Throughout the day, Moroccan security forces, accompanied by dogs, thwarted multiple mass crossing attempts, mainly by sub-Saharan migrants who had gathered in the area.

Security forces remain deployed around Fnideq to locate any remaining groups of migrants hiding in the vicinity. Rabat organized a significant security operation involving thousands of personnel to prevent the mass crossings that had been called for Saturday. This intensified security presence follows a recent crisis on July 30 and 31, when tens of thousands of people crossed into the Spanish enclave by land and sea, with humanitarian organizations reporting at least 141 deaths.