On September 23, Moroccan authorities carried out a significant operation across eight cities, resulting in the arrest of 10 individuals for disseminating online calls for mass migration to Ceuta and Melilla. The suspects, including two minors aged 16 and 17, were apprehended in Témara, Béni Mellal, Casablanca, Taza, Marrakech, Fès, Taroudant, and Nador. The operation was a collaborative effort between the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST).
The arrests were made after investigators identified publications on social media and messaging applications that encouraged collective crossings into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. The online calls, which were set to take place on a specific date, prompted authorities to take action. According to the DGSN, its digital surveillance units had detected the content before September 23, and technical investigations allowed them to track down several users and locate some of them before the planned gathering.
The arrested individuals have been placed in custody under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor's offices. The investigation aims to determine the precise role of each suspect and verify potential links between their accounts or with networks that organize clandestine crossings. At this stage, authorities have not established any connections between the suspects and organized networks.
This operation comes less than two months after an exceptional migratory episode towards Ceuta, where over 72,000 people crossed into the Spanish enclave on July 30 and 31. Social media played a significant role in that incident, with publications on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok spreading misinformation about the border being open or that people arriving by swimming would not be immediately deported.
The recent arrests demonstrate that Moroccan authorities are now closely monitoring the digital preparation of such mobilizations, before they potentially translate into action on the ground. New publications calling for collective crossings continued to appear after the July influx, prompting Spanish authorities to surveil messages announcing new attempts, including some planned for August.
Public groups dedicated to migration to Ceuta had gathered tens of thousands of members, highlighting the ongoing threat. The authorities' efforts to curb these online calls aim to prevent a repeat of the massive migration influx witnessed in July. Morocco and Spain have been working together to address the issue, with the international community taking a keen interest in the developments.
The latest operation highlights the complexities of managing migration flows and the role of social media in shaping public behavior. As authorities continue to investigate the arrested individuals and their online activities, they aim to disrupt networks that facilitate clandestine crossings and maintain border security.
Key points
- Moroccan authorities arrested 10 individuals for promoting mass migration to Ceuta via social media.
- The operation was carried out across eight cities, including Casablanca and Marrakech.
- The arrests aim to prevent a repeat of the massive migration influx witnessed in July 2026.
