Spanish Intelligence Warned of Ceuta Mass Crossing Plans

Spanish intelligence services had prior knowledge of planned mass migrant crossings into the Spanish enclave of Ceuta, according to declassified documents obtained by El País. These documents indicate that both Spanish and Moroccan authorities were alerted to social media discussions and calls for a coordinated surge of migrants on May 16, 2021, the day before the unprecedented influx occurred. The intelligence reports detailed plans circulating on social media platforms, specifically mentioning the intention to overwhelm border controls by crossing in large numbers. This information was shared between the Spanish National Police and the Moroccan Directorate General for Territorial Surveillance (DGST).

The declassified files include intercepted communications and analyses from intelligence agencies, highlighting the organized nature of the planned crossing. The intelligence suggested that the operation was being coordinated through encrypted messaging applications and social media groups, with participants being instructed on how and when to approach the border. The warnings specifically mentioned the city of Ceuta as the target and indicated a significant number of individuals were preparing to make the attempt. Despite these warnings, the scale of the eventual crossing on May 17, 2021, which saw an estimated 8,000 to 10,000 migrants, including many minors, enter Ceuta, reportedly surprised border officials.

The surge in May 2021 represented a significant escalation in migration pressures on Spain's North African enclaves. Migrants, primarily from sub-Saharan African countries, used inflatable boats to reach the shores of Ceuta and the neighboring Spanish territory of Melilla, often swimming across the short distance from Moroccan coastlines. The event led to a severe diplomatic crisis between Spain and Morocco, as Spain had recently admitted Brahim Ghali, the leader of the Polisario Front, for medical treatment in a Spanish hospital, a move that angered Morocco, which considers the Western Sahara a part of its territory. The Moroccan government was accused by some Spanish officials of facilitating or at least not preventing the mass crossing as a retaliatory measure. The declassified documents suggest that intelligence agencies were aware of the potential for such a coordinated action, raising questions about the preparedness and response of authorities on the ground. The documents also reveal that the intelligence was shared across different levels of government and between the two countries, underscoring the transnational nature of the migration challenge. The aftermath of the surge saw thousands of migrants, including hundreds of unaccompanied minors, being returned to Morocco, sparking further humanitarian concerns and international scrutiny.