Moroccan authorities seized more than 100 people near the outskirts of the town of Fnideq on Saturday, according to Moroccan security sources cited by Spanish media and Reuters. The intercepted group, known locally as Castillejos, were mainly from sub‑Saharan Africa and had been attempting to cross into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.
The operation followed a spate of large‑scale crossings last month when roughly 78,000 migrants arrived by sea in a matter of hours, 100 of whom died, it was reported; the majority of arrivals subsequently returned to Morocco. Moroccan police, wearing riot gear, used tear gas to disperse groups gathered on nearby hills.
Security was tightened after the influx, with Moroccan officials monitoring social‑media posts calling for a new mass crossing on Saturday. The government warned it would prosecute organisers and participants.
Spain reinforced the border with more than 1,500 officers, a floating barrier and a metal fence. El Pais quoted Spanish officials saying security at the breakwater entrance was “10 times stronger than the previous day.” In response, Italy has suspended the Schengen‑based free movement with Spain and introduced border checks on arrivals from Spain, sparking diplomatic tensions among EU partners.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez denied that Ceuta lies within the Schengen area, stating that migrants who arrive in Ceuta cannot travel to other European countries. The contest over control of the border is expected to continue, as Spain urges Italy to drop its checks in the face of a possible new influx of migrants.
