Morocco’s Interior Ministry said it has detained several people suspected of inciting illegal mass border crossings into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, following the circulation of social media posts calling for such attempts around August 15.
In a statement by its spokesperson, the ministry said it had monitored messages of unknown origin on certain platforms urging the organization of illegal mass crossings.
The ministry described these practices as posing serious risks to people’s safety and as attempts to exploit migration issues for punishable acts of incitement.
“All necessary measures have been taken to counter any attempt at illegal crossing and to intercept anyone seeking to participate in such attempts, with the necessary legal measures being taken against anyone found to have engaged in unlawful acts, including those promoting such calls on social media,” the ministry said.
A number of suspects have been detained and placed under judicial investigation supervised by the competent public prosecutor’s office, itr said, stressing that security forces’ state of readiness is not tied to any specific date but forms part of an ongoing vigilance system, particularly in areas near the Ceuta and Melilla crossings.
This readiness is continuously strengthened and adapted according to developments and identified risks, it said, calling on the public to remain vigilant and responsible and not to be drawn into what it termed “suspicious and misleading calls,” given the dangers they pose to people’s lives.
“Combating irregular migration and human-trafficking networks cannot rely on the efforts of one party alone. It requires all parties to assume their responsibilities and fulfill their commitments within a framework of shared responsibility,” the statement said.
In this context, the ministry called on Spanish authorities, within the existing framework of bilateral coordination and cooperation, to accelerate procedures for returning unaccompanied minors currently in Ceuta to their families in Morocco in a manner that safeguards the children’s best interests, while overcoming administrative and judicial obstacles that have delayed their return.
It reiterated the central importance of the immediate-return mechanism, noting that previous experience has demonstrated its effectiveness in addressing migration challenges and strengthening field interventions.
The Ministry of Interior concluded that Moroccan authorities will continue to carry out their duties with firmness and responsibility, ensuring the protection of public order and the safety of people and property, while combating irregular migration and human-trafficking networks. They will maintain the highest levels of vigilance, readiness, and continuous coordination in full compliance with the law.
