Spanish Police Report: Morocco Orchestrated Migrant Influx to Ceuta

A Spanish National Police intelligence unit has concluded that the mass entry of approximately 72,000 migrants into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta in late July was not spontaneous but a planned operation directed by Moroccan security forces. This finding contradicts Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez's earlier accusations that "networks from Israel and Russia" were responsible for spreading disinformation that fueled the crisis.

The report, submitted to a judge at the National Court in Madrid and shared with prosecutors, indicates that Moroccan security personnel guided migrants toward specific border points and managed their flow from the Moroccan city of Fnideq towards Spanish territory. The intelligence unit dismissed the possibility of an unplanned surge driven solely by smuggling networks or social media calls, suggesting the operation aimed to overwhelm Spain's border control and create a crisis under the guise of a migration event.

Evidence cited includes images documenting the activities of Moroccan security forces before and during the influx. The report details distinct waves of entry, initially involving young men equipped for swimming, followed by families and children, suggesting strategic planning to exploit Spanish response capabilities. Notably, about 90% of those who entered Ceuta returned to Morocco within hours, leading investigators to believe the migration served as a cover for a broader political or security objective, possibly linked to Morocco's territorial claims over Ceuta and Melilla.

The report was prepared at the request of Judge María Tardón, who launched an investigation into whether the events violated Spain's independence, sovereignty, or territorial integrity. Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska expressed surprise at the report's conclusions not being shared with the government earlier, demanding an explanation from the police chief. The Prime Minister's office also stated it was surprised by the lack of information sharing, emphasizing that the government had not yet received the full report.

This development follows Sánchez's public dismissal of Moroccan involvement and his focus on Israel and Russia, whom he accused of spreading false information to destabilize his government. Both Israel and Russia denied the accusations, with Israel suggesting Sánchez was deflecting blame for his government's handling of the crisis. While the police report does not directly implicate Morocco's highest political or military leadership, its central conclusion casts significant doubt on Sánchez's attempt to absolve Rabat and shift blame to Israel and Russia.