Morocco Arrest 152 Illegal Migration Instigators To Spain's Ceuta

UNSPLASH/David Valverde/Ceuta ILLUSTRATION, Spain

JAKARTA - Morocco arrested 152 people on charges of using social media to inciting mass illegal migration efforts to Ceuta in Spain.

In recent days, thousands of Moroccan youths have rushed to the northern city of Fnideq, which borders Ceuta, to try to cross.

Their efforts were thwarted by the city's largest security forces, according to human rights activists there.

"All efforts have been thwarted," a spokesman for Mustapha Baitas said at a news conference reported by Reuters on Friday, September 20.

"About 3,000 people are trying to carry out illegal migration," he added.

Two regions in Spain, namely Ceuta and Melilla, share the only land border between the European Union and Africa.

Spain has sporadically experienced a wave of crossovers by migrants trying to reach Europe.

Morocco and Spain have strengthened their cooperation in overcoming illegal migration since Madrid supported Morocco's disputed autonomy plan in the Western Sahara in 2022.

Videos shared by local media showed young people throwing stones at security forces as they were prevented from approaching the Ceuta border.

"No casualties have been reported," Baitas said.