The Spanish National Police have submitted a report to Judge María Tardón asserting that Moroccan security agents planned and directed the mass border crossing into Ceuta on July 30 and 31. The internal assessment challenges the Spanish government's official stance, which has consistently attributed the incident to human trafficking networks and external actors, while distancing Morocco from any operational involvement.
Information from the police intelligence unit CENIF (Centro Nacional de Inmigración y Fronteras), the crossing of approximately 80,000 people from Morocco into Spanish territory was a coordinated operation. Now in the hands of the prosecutor's office, the report details how Moroccan uniformed and plainclothes officers allegedly guided groups from the border town of Castillejos (Fnideq) to the Spanish fence and instructed them on how to breach it. It includes photographic evidence of Moroccan agents among the crowd and claims the supposed migration motive was merely a cover for a broader operation.
The findings suggest the event was designed to overwhelm Spanish border controls and weaken the country's response capacity. The report also links the operation to Morocco's ongoing territorial claims over Ceuta and Melilla, pointing to a strategic aim beyond migration. The CENIF unit had issued a risk alert on July 29, warning of a possible mass entry by sea the following day. Police also argue that most border crossers' rapid return to Morocco within hours undermines the account of a genuine migration attempt.
Internal tensions have reportedly surfaced within the Spanish police hierarchy over the handling of the report. Judge Tardón is said to have requested the assessment directly from the Comisaría General de Extranjería, bypassing the Director General of Police. The CENIF analysis rejects the idea that criminal mafias orchestrated the event, instead describing it as a classic counterintelligence operation aimed at discrediting Spain's intelligence services, particularly the Centro Nacional de Inteligencia.
The report describes a two-phase strategy: first, young men equipped for swimming crossed to exhaust Spanish resources, then vulnerable families followed to further strain the response. Police maintain that Moroccan agents on the ground managed the flow and provided logistical support throughout the operation.
The report comes amid debate about border management and Spain's relationship with Morocco. The Ceuta incident has sparked protests and calls for government accountability, including demands by local residents for expulsions and stricter controls after the crisis. For more on the public reaction and local tensions, see the coverage of Ceuta residents' demands for migrant expulsions.
Ceuta and Melilla, Spain's two North African enclaves, have long been flashpoints in migration and diplomatic disputes. The July events have intensified scrutiny of bilateral cooperation and the effectiveness of Spain's border security apparatus. The government maintains its position, while the police report adds new complexities to an already sensitive issue, with potential implications for future policy and regional stability.
