Morocco deployed a large police force on Saturday to stop hundreds of migrants from reaching Spanish territory across the border with Ceuta. The operation, which included riot police and aerial support from drones and helicopters, sealed the basic crossing points and halted attempts to repeat the mass entry that overwhelmed Ceuta at the end of July. The speed and scale of that earlier movement became a wider European rights concern: the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) said the events put Fundamental Rights at the EU’s external borders to the test.
By early afternoon, Moroccan authorities had detained 294 migrants in and around Fnideq, most of them from sub-Saharan Africa, the prefecture of Tetuán said. The detainees were taken by bus to distant southern cities, including Uarzazate, more than 800 kilometers from Ceuta. The police operation followed calls on social media for a new mass crossing, similar to the July surge, when up to 80,000 people entered the Spanish enclave amid minimal resistance from Moroccan security forces. Estimates of July arrivals differ: Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska put the number at more than 72,000, while Ceuta authorities cited about 80,000. A later Ceuta government report gave a cumulative administrative estimate of 96,058. It combined several categories of people inside and outside reception facilities, rather than counting individually verified border crossings.
Throughout the day, Moroccan riot units used tear gas and coordinated charges to disperse groups of migrants near the border. Some tried to set fires to cover their retreat, but aerial surveillance forced them to abandon their efforts several kilometers from the fence. By late afternoon, people who had escaped the police cordon were seen heading toward the forests near Belyunes, visibly exhausted after hours of confrontation. The July episode also raised grave humanitarian concerns: the FRA reported at least 88 deaths among people attempting to cross by swimming. It also raised concerns over the right to life and alleged disproportionate force, as well as reception conditions and child protection.
Among those stopped was Alí Kuné, a 28-year-old from Chad, who described the desperate conditions in the makeshift camps and his hope of reaching Europe. Others, including 15-year-old Amadou al Mayar from Nigeria and Abdulá al Beij from Morocco, voiced frustration and determination to try again, even considering alternative routes such as Melilla. Despite heightened tensions, Melilla remained calm. Spanish forces maintained a strong presence along the border, and no new entries were reported.
Morocco's security measures also covered Beni Enzar, the basic crossing to Melilla, where dozens of military and police personnel were stationed. Temporary camps and riot gear were visible, giving a sense of the operation's scale. On the Spanish side, nearly 3,600 police and Guardia Civil personnel, along with military staff, were on alert, though only a fraction were deployed directly at the border. The reinforced presence followed the July incident, when the regular contingent was quickly overwhelmed by the influx.
Spanish authorities have stressed the importance of Moroccan cooperation in managing the border. As reported in recent coverage of the Ceuta crisis, Spain has ruled out transferring migrants to the mainland and insists on rapid returns to Morocco. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has repeatedly called the collaboration exceptional, noting that more than 90% of those who entered Ceuta irregularly in July were returned within 24 hours. The process for those still in Ceuta is more complex, but, because immediate returns are no longer legally possible. By 21 October, government spokesperson Elma Saiz said 12,702 people had returned from Ceuta to Morocco since 10 August, showing the scale of returns in the post-crisis response.
To address the backlog, Spanish police have started individual identification and expulsion procedures, sending 26 specialists to Ceuta to speed up the process. The cases of nearly 1,900 unaccompanied minors are more complicated and require detailed reports and coordination with Moroccan authorities. Meanwhile, the city continues to host thousands of irregular migrants, and a return to pre-crisis normality remains uncertain. By October, reports said more than 1,000 migrants still in Ceuta came from sub-Saharan countries whose nationals receive asylum in Spain in over 90% of cases. That figure has brought access to protection procedures and the handling of individual claims into focus alongside border enforcement.
During the border operation, Moroccan officials expelled journalists from Efe and RTVE who were covering events in Castillejos. Reporters were ordered to leave the area, and local authorities warned that their credentials and equipment could be confiscated. The Spanish government said it was seeking a solution and remained in contact with the affected journalists and Moroccan officials. Efe and RTVE have both defended the right to report freely on the situation.
Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's only land borders with Africa, have long been focal points for migration pressure. Through September 2026, Frontex recorded 18,260 irregular crossings on the western Mediterranean route, a 26% increase, but excluded the Ceuta land entries of 30 and 31 July while Spain’s figures remained under review. The route total so does not include the July surge. The episode continues to show the operational importance of Moroccan cooperation and the challenges Spanish authorities face in managing arrivals while addressing protection procedures and humanitarian needs. Security forces on both sides remain on heightened alert to prevent further mass crossings.
