A report issued by the Spanish police on Wednesday, completed at the request of the country's Ministry of the Interior, referred to what it described as the "negligence" of the Moroccan police in dealing with the influx of migrants to Ceuta in late July, speaking in particular of a "security deployment much less than usual." This comes following statements by Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday to Radio Cadena Ser, in which he affirmed that “none of the intelligence services with which the Spanish government cooperates has indicated any involvement of the Moroccan authorities in one way or another.”

Published on: 02/09/2026 - 15:35 Last updated: 02/09/2026 - 22:09

A report was issued by the Spanish police, a copy of which was seen by Agence France-Presse on Wednesday, talking about the “negligence” of the Moroccan police in dealing with the influx of migrants to Ceuta in late July, according to its description, noting in particular “a security deployment much less than usual.”

It is not unlikely that this report will cause embarrassment to the Spanish government, which has always absolved Morocco of any responsibility for the sudden and massive influx of tens of thousands of migrants to this small Spanish enclave located in North Africa on July 30 and 31, a position that was met with criticism from many members of the opposition.

Before that, a source in the Ministry of the Interior had explained on Wednesday that the Minister responsible for the sector, Fernando Grande Marlaska, had asked the police to verify a report by a government body indicating a role for the Moroccan security forces in the influx of tens of thousands of migrants into the Ceuta enclave in July.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez confirmed on Monday that Morocco was not responsible for the mass influx of about 70,000 migrants to Ceuta, accusing Israel, Russia and the far right of spreading misleading information about the incident.

Read also: Sanchez denies Morocco's responsibility for the influx of migrants to Ceuta and accuses Russia and Israel of spreading misleading information

But the online newspaper El Espanyol reported that the Spanish government's National Immigration and Border Center said the operation "took place under the guidance of Moroccan security forces... with an aim not related to immigration."

Sources in the ministry said that Grande-Marlaska sent a letter to the National Police Commander, Francisco Pardo, requesting verification of this information, which the center reportedly sent to a judge collecting information regarding the incident.

Read also: When the dream of immigration turns into a tragedy... Moroccan families search for their missing children in Ceuta

The minister said in his letter, "Any information of this kind should have been made available immediately to the National Security Council... and to other bodies competent in this field."

More than 70,000 migrants entered the small Spanish enclave in North Africa on July 30 and 31, swimming or walking from neighboring Morocco, in an unprecedented influx that killed dozens of people.

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“None of the intelligence services with which the Spanish government cooperates has indicated any involvement of the Moroccan authorities in one way or another,” Sanchez told Cadena Ser radio on Monday.

France 24/AFP

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