Spain’s Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, has asked the director general of the National Police to clarify whether the force had reports implicating Moroccan gendarmes in orchestrating the mass entry into Ceuta on July 30. The request follows a report by El Español, which claimed that Spanish police had information suggesting Moroccan agents directed the crossing for reasons beyond migration.
In a letter accessed by EFE, Grande-Marlaska asked Francisco Pardo, the police chief, to confirm whether such intelligence existed and when it was received. If the reports are accurate, the minister said, the Interior Ministry and the government must be fully informed to respond appropriately to the Ceuta migration crisis. He cited the government’s constitutional responsibility for policy at home and abroad, including national security.
Grande-Marlaska also noted that the situation has been declared a matter of national security under Law 36/2015, requiring relevant information to be shared immediately with the National Security Council and other designated authorities. He said this obligation applies regardless of the status of judicial investigations, which remain at an early stage. The minister insisted that police must promptly inform the Interior Ministry, which holds ultimate authority over internal security matters.
The letter concludes with a request for a swift response on the veracity of the media report and, if confirmed, the immediate transfer of all relevant information held by the National Police, including any future developments.
The request comes as Spain faces unprecedented pressure at the Ceuta border. Information from recent coverage of the ongoing border situation, over 80,000 migrants have entered Ceuta from Morocco despite reinforced barriers and increased security. The role of Moroccan authorities remains a critical factor in the developing crisis.
Ceuta, a Spanish enclave on the North African coast, has long been a focal point for migration from Africa to Europe. The July 30 incident intensified scrutiny of cross-border cooperation and the effectiveness of bilateral agreements between Spain and Morocco. The government’s demand for transparency reflects growing concerns about border security management and the need for coordinated action among national institutions. As judicial proceedings advance, the inquiry’s outcome may influence future policy decisions on Spain’s border management and its relationship with Morocco.
