Rabat – Spain’s Civil Guard intercepted seven Moroccan nationals who attempted to make the journey from Ceuta to mainland Spain aboard two kayaks, according to Spanish news agency EFE.
The incident took place shortly before midnight Sunday after a maritime patrol spotted activity near Benzú Beach, close to Ceuta’s northern border with Morocco. Officers moved toward the area and stopped the two kayaks before they could reach the Spanish mainland.
Four people were aboard one kayak, while three others traveled in the second vessel, according to Civil Guard sources cited by EFE.
Authorities warned that the crossing posed serious risks because of the small size and limited stability of the kayaks, particularly with several passengers aboard each vessel.
The Civil Guard intercepted all seven passengers before they reached the mainland.
The attempted crossing comes amid heightened attention to migration routes around Ceuta following the mass influx into the Spanish enclave on July 30 and 31. Thousands of people attempted to enter Ceuta during the two-day episode, which placed significant pressure on local authorities and prompted increased security measures around the enclave.
Spanish authorities have since continued to monitor movement around Ceuta’s land and maritime borders.
Moroccan authorities have also continued to monitor movement along the northern coastline and around the approaches to Ceuta, as part of broader efforts to prevent irregular crossings and respond to maritime migration attempts.
