Spain seeks Morocco intelligence on Ceuta migration
A Spanish judge ordered the government to release intelligence files shared with Morocco before the July Ceuta migration crisis.
Spain's National Court ordered the government on October 27 to declassify intelligence documents shared with Morocco before the July migration attempt towards Ceuta. Judge Maria Tardon gave the government 15 days to release files from the National Intelligence Center, including communications with Morocco’s General Directorate for Studies and Documentation and General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance. The judge wants to know what Spanish intelligence told Moroccan agencies and how Rabat responded to warnings about online groups organizing mass crossings.
Spanish intelligence alerted the Moroccan agencies on July 29 to online groups with around 180,000 members calling for mass crossings into Ceuta. Tardon is seeking the full text of intelligence reports sent to Morocco and any responses. The inquiry is occurring as migration is a central campaign issue for Spain's November 29 elections.
Social media has become a major tool for organizing irregular migration, with Moroccan authorities reporting a shift from traditional smuggling. Moroccan authorities estimated nearly 40,000 people were involved, while Spanish estimates reached 70,000. The National Human Rights Council documented 23 virtual groups with over 1 million members generating about 1,400 daily posts.
Why it mattersSpanish authorities are investigating intelligence shared with Morocco regarding a mass migration event that affected both countries.