Moroccan prosecutors in Tetouan have formally charged 25 people accused of organizing irregular crossings and transporting passengers without proper authorization during last Thursday’s mass entry of migrants into Ceuta. Judicial sources confirmed the charges. They follow an unprecedented movement in which more than 70,000 people reportedly crossed from Morocco into the Spanish enclave between 29 and 31 July 2026, the largest irregular crossing recorded there. The accused are charged in Morocco; separately, Spain has opened a judicial inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the influx.
The accused face allegations of exceeding legal passenger limits and remaining in Morocco after their visas expired. They are also accused of organizing unauthorized transport. Authorities allege verbal and physical abuse of security personnel. The accused also face allegations of deliberately destroying public property and disobeying law enforcement. The Moroccan news portal Hespress reported the details. The charges concern alleged conduct and do not, by themselves, establish the circumstances behind the wider mass crossing.
The Moroccan government has rejected claims that it relaxed border controls or acted under external pressure during the events. Officials in Rabat expressed disappointment with some European political reactions, accusing certain leaders of using the migration crisis for electoral purposes. Moroccan diplomatic sources have said migration policy remains unchanged and anyone attempting an irregular border crossing will be returned. They also reaffirmed Morocco’s cooperation with Spain on border management. Online messages reportedly urging people to enter Ceuta around Morocco’s Throne Day celebrations were identified as a possible catalyst. Morocco’s Interior Ministry said a campaign promoted the claim that the Spanish border was open and entrants would face no legal consequences.
The scale of the influx put sustained pressure on services in Ceuta, especially accommodation and child protection. Police and humanitarian services also faced heavy demands. Spanish authorities said roughly 70,000 people returned to Morocco within days. Spain later recorded more than 12,700 returns between 10 August and 20 October, while a subsequent account cited 13,101 returns since 10 August. The government said most adults who remained in Ceuta were housed in facilities provided by the basic administration. Estimates of the remaining population varied: earlier assessments cited up to 15,000, while late-September reports put the figure as high as 10,000. Those remaining included unaccompanied minors and asylum seekers from countries such as Yemen and Sudan. Reports also documented dozens of deaths during sea crossings and on land, with estimates varying by source.
Spain’s National Court is examining what authorities knew before and during the influx. It has sought information about possible Moroccan naval activity near Ceuta from 29 July to 10 August. Investigating judge María Tardón asked Spain’s Defence Staff to clarify whether Moroccan Navy vessels entered Spanish territorial waters, remained there or transited through them, and whether they interacted with Spanish military units. The court also sought intelligence reports and satellite-surveillance material covering 15 July to 7 August. It requested CCTV footage and drone footage, along with records on expulsions and rescues; it also sought information on fatalities. The inquiry has not established a connection between any naval presence and the mass arrivals. The court said there was “no objective evidence” that Moroccan naval units “participated in, facilitated, or organized” the events.
The incident has drawn political attention in Spain and prompted scrutiny of the response by Spanish security services. A recent report examined whether border forces received prior warnings before the influx; see the analysis of the response by Spanish security services in this detailed overview of the National Court’s investigation.
Ceuta, a Spanish autonomous city on the North African coast, has long been a focal point for migration from Morocco and sub-Saharan Africa. Its fortified border has seen periodic large-scale crossing attempts, putting pressure on local services and testing bilateral relations. The Tetouan prosecutions form part of Morocco’s response to the latest crossings, while Spain’s separate inquiry examines the intelligence behind the response and how security operations unfolded. The outcomes could shape future cooperation between the two countries on border security and migration management.
