Moroccan security forces arrest nearly 300 migrants trying to reach Spain’s Ceuta

Casablanca, Morocco - Authorities in Morocco arrested nearly 300 migrants attempting to reach Spain's Ceuta on Saturday, according to Moroccan state television. The arrests came after a surge in social media calls for migrants to arrive in Ceuta, a Spanish city on Morocco's northern coast. Moroccan state broadcaster Medi 1 TV reported that 294 sub-Saharan African migrants were apprehended, along with 61 Moroccans accused of aiding the migration efforts.

In response to the attempts, Moroccan and Spanish authorities increased security presence and restricted movement near the area. This incident follows a deadly migration crisis two weeks ago, in which at least 90 people died during one of the deadliest migration crises in the region. Moroccan authorities have deployed over 20,000 security personnel along the border, costing hundreds of millions of dollars annually.