Spanish intelligence warned government officials and Morocco about plans to storm Ceuta a day before more than 70,000 migrants crossed the border, declassified documents revealed.
A declassified intelligence note sent on July 29 by Spain's Centro Nacional de Inteligencia to Moroccan security services warned that migrants on social media platforms were coordinating a mass entry into the enclave. The warning specified that individuals planned to scale border fences or swim around coastal barriers, aiming to take advantage of security distractions during Morocco's national Throne Day celebrations on July 30.
On the same day, intelligence officers sent declassified WhatsApp messages to the Spanish government representative in Ceuta to highlight the potential magnitude of the operation. The messages cited two distinct online groups comprising a total of 180,000 followers to illustrate the scale of the impending surge. The Moroccan government did not respond to requests for comment on the disclosures.
Ceuta is a Spanish autonomous city situated on the North African coast, bordered by Morocco and the Mediterranean Sea at the entrance to the Strait of Gibraltar. Along with the nearby Spanish city of Melilla, Ceuta forms one of only two land borders separating the European Union from Africa. The perimeter features tall double border fences and coastal breakwaters that stretch into the sea, which have long made the enclave a primary destination for migrants seeking entry into European territory.
Crisis on the North African border
Six weeks after the breach, during which an estimated 140 people were killed, more than 10,000 migrants remain stranded in Ceuta, according to local authorities. The group includes numerous unaccompanied minors who continue to reside in makeshift camps, public streets, and coastal beaches across the city.
The ongoing humanitarian situation has driven growing frustration among local residents. Angry over the Spanish government's management of the border crisis, enclave residents have organized almost daily street demonstrations demanding action and improved security controls.
Spain's Centro Nacional de Inteligencia, headquartered in Madrid, serves as the nation's primary intelligence agency responsible for gathering security information and counterintelligence for the Ministry of Defence. Morocco's intelligence architecture includes the Direction Générale de la Surveillance du Territoire, which handles domestic security, and the Direction Générale des Études et de la Documentation, which oversees foreign intelligence operations.
Morocco's Throne Day, celebrated annually on July 30, is a major national holiday commemorating the accession of King Mohammed VI to the throne in 1999. Public holiday observances across Morocco typically involve nationwide public gatherings and altered routine security deployments along coastal and border zones.
Government release and operational debate
The publication of 40 separate intelligence reports, messages, and warnings covering the period between July 1 and July 31 has intensified scrutiny over the decisions made by Spanish officials prior to the influx. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez had previously pledged to release the full documentation to clarify government actions during the crisis.
Among the records made public is an internal Spanish Ministry of Defence memorandum dated July 30, which described conditions along the Moroccan coastline near Ceuta as migratory chaos. The memo detailed that a migrant crisis had been developing since July 25, during which roughly 1,700 migrants had arrived by sea, and warned that additional border breaches were anticipated imminently.
Spanish Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares defended the government's actions today, insisting that the released documents contained no clear warning regarding the exact size of the crowd that arrived on July 30. Speaking to reporters, Albares said he was speaking based on his own experience on the day of the crossing and maintained that he had not been aware of any intelligence indicating the scale of the incoming avalanche.
Addressing parliament last week, Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez similarly stated that while situational reports regarding border activity were available, no prior intelligence revealed the true magnitude of the crisis. Sánchez added that there was no evidence demonstrating that Moroccan authorities had orchestrated the border crossing.
Judicial investigation launched
Spanish judicial authorities officially opened a formal investigation today into the entry of tens of thousands of migrants into Ceuta in late July, pointing to indications of potential procedural or legal breaches surrounding the border failure.
Defending the administration's stance, government representatives assured reporters that no international institution, European Commission body, or diplomatic service had provided Spain with solid evidence prior to or during the event.
Pedro Sánchez has led Spain's government since 2018 as head of the Spanish Socialist Workers' Party, overseeing complex diplomatic and border relations with North Africa. As Foreign Minister, José Manuel Albares manages Spain's bilateral ties with Morocco and coordination with European Union border control agencies.
