Morocco stops hundreds of migrants near Ceuta border and orders Spanish journalists out
Spanish and Moroccan security forces kept a tight grip on the frontiers around Ceuta and Melilla this Saturday, August 15, […]
On August 15, 2026, Spanish and Moroccan security forces halted another mass attempt to cross into the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla. Approximately 300 people were detained, primarily of sub-Saharan African origin, near Castillejos. Heavy police presence on both sides of the border prevented a repeat of the large influx that occurred in late July.
Guardia Civil and Policía Nacional units remained on high alert in Ceuta. Similar reinforcements, totaling around 150 officers plus a patrol boat, helicopter, and specialist teams, were deployed in Melilla. Moroccan security sources reported that hundreds of migrants had hidden in the hills southwest of Ceuta near Castillejos. Tear gas and a helicopter were used to disperse the group, leading to nearly 300 arrests for encouraging illegal migration.
The Spanish government described the day as normal and free of incidents. Moroccan authorities ordered Spanish journalists from leading news agencies, EFE and TVE, to leave Castillejos while covering the police operation against the migrants.
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