Rabat – Spain’s National Court has requested information from the Ministry of Defense on the alleged presence of Moroccan naval vessels near occupied Ceuta between July 29 and August 10, as part of an ongoing investigation into the mass arrival of migrants in the enclave in July.
In a ruling issued Wednesday, investigating judge María Tardón asked the Defense Staff to clarify whether Moroccan Navy vessels entered, remained in, or transited through Spanish territorial waters adjacent to Ceuta during the period.
The judge also requested details of any interactions between Moroccan vessels and Spanish naval or other military units, along with any available recordings documenting the vessels’ presence.
Tardón further asked whether similar incidents occurred after August 10 and, if so, under what circumstances.
However, the ruling explicitly states that the investigation has not established any link between the possible presence of Moroccan naval vessels and the mass arrival of migrants.
The judge noted that the case contains no objective evidence indicating that Moroccan naval units participated in, facilitated, or organized the events. The request for information therefore does not constitute a finding of wrongdoing by Moroccan authorities.
The court also rejected several requests from the private prosecution brought by the political party Iustitia Europa, describing the proposed measures as disproportionate. These included demands to prevent the deletion, overwriting, or destruction of radar records.
Intelligence report examines Moroccan authorities’ alleged prior knowledge
The judicial inquiry follows the arrival of more than 70,000 people in Ceuta during the July 29-30 crisis, which unfolded amid heightened tensions between Rabat and Madrid.
According to a report submitted by Spain’s National Intelligence Center (CNI) to the judge last week, Moroccan authorities allegedly knew in advance about calls circulating on social media that encouraged people to enter Ceuta around the celebrations of Throne Day.
The report claims that Moroccan authorities were aware of the planned movement and had detailed knowledge of online appeals that attracted substantial attention.
However, awareness of calls circulating on social media does not, in itself, establish that Moroccan authorities organized or facilitated the crossings. Morocco also took steps to help curb the situation, contributing to efforts to contain the crisis and manage migration flows.
Any assessment of the events should account for Morocco’s role in migration management and its subsequent cooperation with Spain on border security.
