Uncovering Allegations of Moroccan Influence on Migration to Ceuta
According to revelations from El Español, Moroccan plainclothes gendarmes are alleged to have guided migrants during a recent mass entry into Ceuta, ostensibly to disrupt Spain's border control systems and diminish its response capabilities. This alarming claim has prompted Spain's Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, to investigate the authenticity and timeline of an internal report suggesting these actions were not purely migratory but politically motivated. In a recent communication with the Director General of the National Police, Francisco Pardo, Grande-Marlaska sought clarification on when the police first obtained this crucial information, emphasizing its importance for enabling the government to make informed decisions regarding the ongoing migration crisis in Ceuta.
The report, which has also been shared with National Court Judge María Tardón by the General Commissariat of Foreigners and Borders (CENIF), posits that the orchestrated influx of migrants was tied to Morocco's territorial claims over Ceuta and Melilla. The Spanish government has faced mounting scrutiny as it grapples with the implications of this report. While some officials have pointed fingers at external actors like Russia and Israel for instigating disinformation campaigns that may have exacerbated the crisis, they have dismissed the notion of Moroccan involvement as unfounded. Elma Saiz, the government spokesperson, reiterated that there is no substantial evidence linking Morocco to the alleged orchestrations of the migrant crisis.
Urgent Inquiry into Police Intelligence Reports
In his letter, Grande-Marlaska underscored the necessity for immediate access to this intelligence, which he deems vital for maintaining national security. He referenced Law 36/2015 on National Security, which obliges the dissemination of such crucial information to the National Security Council and other relevant authorities. Despite the ongoing judicial investigations into the matter, he stressed that these should not impede law enforcement from promptly informing the Interior Minister, who is responsible for overseeing national security. Grande-Marlaska's correspondence concluded with a request for rapid confirmation regarding the veracity of the published claims and any additional data the National Police may possess pertaining to this situation.
Both El Español and Mediaset's Código 10 reported that on July 29, Marlaska was alerted by a police intelligence report detailing an 'extreme risk of mass entry' into Ceuta. This report purportedly outlines how Moroccan authorities coordinated the influx and includes photographic evidence and names of Moroccan police collaborating in this endeavor. The intelligence indicates that uniformed gendarmes actively directed migrant flows towards specific access points, while plainclothes individuals—presumed to be Moroccan intelligence agents—provided on-ground directions at the El Tarajal jetty. Alarming details also surfaced regarding the potential entry of 14 suspected jihadists into the autonomous city during this period. Sources characterize this incident as an offensive counter-intelligence operation aimed at undermining the effectiveness of Spain's National Intelligence Center (CNI), which failed to anticipate the breach at the border.
As reported by rtve.es.
