The National Court asks the Civil Guard if it received alerts about migrants entering Ceuta
The Tetouan Prosecutor's Office prosecutes 25 people for organizing the landing in the autonomous city
BarcelonaThe investigating judge of the National High Court, María Tardón, has asked the Civil Guard if it received "any information in the preceding days that could have alerted" to the "massive irregular entry" of thousands of people into Ceuta from Morocco between July 30 and 31 last year. In a ruling to which ARA has had access, the magistrate requests the Information Head of the armed institute to report on the "operation carried out by the different Civil Guard personnel deployed in the territory, particularly regarding the rescue operations of people located in Spanish territorial waters", as well as their personal circumstances.
In the case of deceased individuals, the magistrate wants to know if there is knowledge of "the cause and date of death", while for the "survivors", she requests to know "their identity and location details" that the agents may have obtained. This week, Tardón already requested a report from the General Commission of Immigration and Borders (UCRIF) of the National Police to ascertain if the entry of people from Morocco into Ceuta was "a concerted action" and driven by "a criminal group".
The magistrate agreed to open preliminary proceedings following a criminal complaint filed by the far-right organization, Iustitia Europa, against officials, "members of criminal organizations" and Spanish and foreign authorities "who could be identified". Iustitia Europa filed the complaint for crimes against state security, against the nation, for aiding illegal immigration and human trafficking, criminal organization, and omission of the duty to prosecute crimes.
The judge still has to resolve the criminal jurisdiction of the National High Court over the reported events, a matter on which she asked the Public Prosecutor's Office. Approximately 72,000 people, of whom 70,000 have already returned, entered Ceuta massively last Thursday through the breakwater of El Tarajal, at the border with Morocco, an action that has cost the lives of at least 75 people, according to Spanish government data.
25 people processed for migrant entries
In parallel, this Wednesday the Tetouan Public Prosecutor's Office, in Morocco, has prosecuted 25 people for up to six crimes related to the massive entry of thousands of migrants into Ceuta, although some put the figure up to eighty. The charges imputed to them include the organization of irregular crossings, unlicensed passenger transport, exceeding permitted passengers, illegal stay in the country after visa expiry, insults and aggressions against security forces, disobedience, and deliberate destruction of public property and facilities, as reported by the portal Hespress.
The Moroccan government denied on Monday having acted under "pressure or blackmail" when last Thursday tens of thousands of people crossed into Ceuta, and expressed its "disappointment" at the reactions of some European political officials, whom it accused of trying to "instrumentalize" the migratory crisis for electoral purposes.
Moroccan diplomatic sources, furthermore, categorically denied that the authorities have relaxed migratory policies and assured that "whoever tries to cross" the border irregularly "knows that they will be returned and that Morocco will accept their return." A "commitment" that, they assure, Rabat has maintained for "years".