Rabat – Spain has completed the installation of a 500-meter floating security barrier at the maritime border of occupied Ceuta, according to Spanish newspaper El País.
The barrier, located at the Tarajal border crossing between Morocco and occupied Ceuta, is intended to prevent irregular migrants from reaching the enclave by sea after a sharp increase in crossing attempts.
The barrier is an emergency reinforcement measure deployed in response to the sudden migration crisis, during which more than 69,000 migrants crossed the border from Fnideq into Spain’s occupied city of Ceuta.
The barrier’s detail
El País reported that the floating barrier extends 500 meters along the maritime border. It rises between 30 and 70 centimeters above the water and reaches one meter below the surface, making it more difficult for swimmers to cross into the Spanish-controlled enclave.
The barrier comes days after the unprecedented mass migration into occupied Ceuta prompted Spain to launch an emergency response. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez said the government had mobilized all available resources to manage the crisis before ordering the deployment of the armed forces to reinforce security in the area.
The latest measures reflect Spain’s efforts to tighten control over its occupied North African enclaves, particularly after the recent wave of migration drew international attention.
Spanish security sources also reported on Saturday that approximately 69,500 irregular migrants who reached occupied Ceuta have been returned to Morocco under existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms. The same sources said the death toll linked to recent crossing attempts has risen to 67 people.
The migration crisis has fueled growing concern among Moroccan human rights organizations, which have called for investigations into reported deaths, missing migrants, and allegations of excessive force during attempts to reach occupied Ceuta. The events have also reignited debate over migration management, border security, and the humanitarian risks facing people attempting the dangerous sea crossing between northern Morocco and the Spanish-held enclave.
