Spanish Government Received Intelligence Warnings Before Ceuta Crisis
Advance Alerts from Multiple Intelligence Channels
Usagevpn.com – The Spanish government received intelligence warnings of a potential migrant surge in Ceuta days before the crisis unfolded. According to recent reports, Spanish authorities had been monitoring developments since the previous Monday, with various military and civilian intelligence channels providing alerts over multiple days. Popular Party leader Alberto Núñez Feijoo highlighted this during his visit to the territory, noting that government officials had received notifications just hours before tens of thousands of individuals made their way across from Morocco.
Media outlets consulting with intelligence services learned that Moroccan leadership was expected to perform a “gesture of magnanimity” at the border. This anticipated action aligned with Morocco’s annual Throne Day festivities. Following these initial alerts, additional reports emerged describing migrants swimming from Fnideq—referred to as Castillejos in Spanish—while buses transported people from various Moroccan regions toward the frontier.
From Preliminary Test to Historic Migration Emergency
Over approximately ten days, nearly one thousand individuals successfully swam into Ceuta. Officials interpreted this movement as a preliminary test conducted by Moroccan authorities, information they subsequently communicated to Madrid. The situation escalated dramatically, ultimately resulting in between sixty thousand and seventy-five thousand migrants entering the autonomous city. This represents the most substantial migration emergency in Ceuta’s recorded history.
Spain’s Interior Ministry reported that roughly fifty-three thousand individuals had returned to Morocco within the subsequent days. At the Tarajal border crossing, both the Civil Guard and National Police found themselves unable to halt the continuous flow of arrivals. Instead, personnel concentrated their efforts on providing assistance to those who were injured during the crossings. The Spanish government received intelligence warnings that helped officials understand the scale of what was coming.
They could have been mobilized without prior meetings, simply following a political decision and an order from the operations command, sources explained regarding the delayed military deployment.
Operational Challenges and Political Responses
Several sources speaking to The Objective criticized the central government’s hesitation in deploying military forces immediately. Both Ceuta and Melilla maintained military units on standby, yet these forces remained inactive initially. Officers present in the area observed that the Moroccan gendarmerie stood with arms folded while migrants attempted crossings along the breakwater and access road. Some individuals climbed over fences and roofs to reach the border crossing.
Civil Guard representatives noted that the current scenario differs considerably from the May 2021 episode. During that earlier incident, Morocco had eased border controls as a diplomatic gesture following Spain’s acceptance of Polisario Front leader Brahim Ghali. In contrast, this time the number of swimmers had been climbing for weeks, partly attributable to a Spanish Supreme Court decision that prevented the immediate return of migrants reaching Spanish territory by swimming.
The Interior Ministry maintained that cooperation with Morocco remained “exemplary, loyal and permanent.”
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez characterized the mass entry as a “violation of Spain’s territorial integrity.” He attributed responsibility to people-smuggling networks, suggesting they capitalized on the Supreme Court ruling by motivating thousands to attempt the crossing. Sánchez emphasized that Moroccan authorities responded “swiftly and consistently” from the beginning. Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska strengthened border security as maritime arrivals increased, eventually adding approximately thirty officers and a vessel, though the boat experienced mechanical failure several days later.
Despite repeated intelligence warnings, the Interior Ministry delayed ordering reinforcements until late Thursday. At that point, the army was summoned alongside additional personnel from both the Civil Guard and National Police to manage the ongoing situation. The Spanish government received intelligence warnings that could have potentially accelerated the response timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did the Spanish government receive intelligence warnings about Ceuta? The Spanish government received intelligence warnings of a migrant surge several days before the crisis, with some notifications arriving just hours before the mass crossings began.
How many migrants entered Ceuta during this crisis? Between sixty thousand and seventy-five thousand migrants entered the autonomous city, making it the most substantial migration emergency in Ceuta’s recorded history.
What was different about this crisis compared to May 2021? Unlike the May 2021 incident where Morocco eased border controls as a diplomatic gesture, this time the number of swimmers had been climbing for weeks, partly due to a Spanish Supreme Court decision preventing immediate return of migrants.
Why was military deployment delayed? Sources indicated that military forces could have been mobilized without prior meetings, simply following a political decision and an order from the operations command, but the Interior Ministry waited until late Thursday to order reinforcements.
What role did the Supreme Court ruling play? A Spanish Supreme Court decision prevented the immediate return of migrants reaching Spanish territory by swimming, which people-smuggling networks capitalized on by motivating thousands to attempt the crossing.
