Morocco blames Ceuta migrant surge on criminal networks

Morocco has attributed the mass entry of migrants across the border with Ceuta to “criminal organizations,” while stressing that its cooperation with Spain on migration is “exemplary,” according to diplomatic sources at the Moroccan Embassy in Madrid cited by Europa Press.

The same sources emphasized that the latest attempts to enter Ceuta irregularly “in no way reflect any desire on the part of the Moroccan authorities to encourage irregular migration,” noting that all indications suggest these movements are linked to exploitation by criminal networks involved in human trafficking and the illegal smuggling of migrants.

A large number of people managed to enter Ceuta after crossing the border area on Thursday morning and breaking through the security cordon set up in the Tarajal area on the Spanish side to contain the mass entry of migrants.

For its part, Spain’s Foreign Ministry sought to separate the migration crisis in Ceuta—after thousands of people entered in recent hours from Morocco—from Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s visit to Algeria on July 20, stressing that relations with Morocco are “excellent.”

Sources at the Spanish Foreign Ministry told Europa Press: “The relationship with Morocco is excellent and is in no way affected by good relations with Algeria,” adding that coordination on migration, along with “other issues,” is “very strong.”

Meanwhile, sources at Spain’s Interior Ministry said Morocco is cooperating “sincerely” and “continuously” with Spain, and doing so closely, “to address this situation.”

They also noted that the intervention of Moroccan security forces “is preventing a large number of people attempting to enter Ceuta from Moroccan territory from getting through.”