Two Moroccan patrol boats intercept swimmer heading for Ceuta in Spain
By the AFREEQUE newsroom, based on Bladi
Two Moroccan patrol boats intercepted a man swimming towards Ceuta after he crossed the Tarajal buoy in Spanish waters on 26 October. The swimmer was returned to Morocco after being intercepted and belonged to a group of migrants turned back following the mass arrivals at the end of July, according to Spanish daily El Faro de Ceuta.
Two Moroccan patrol boats intercepted a man swimming towards Ceuta on Monday 26 October 2026, after he crossed the Tarajal buoy and entered Spanish waters. The swimmer was taken back to Morocco and handed over to the police, according to Spanish daily El Faro de Ceuta, which filmed the scene.
The man broke away from a group of Moroccans returned from Ceuta, before running towards the beach and entering the water at around 2pm. One patrol boat first tried to catch him, then a second came to assist. The crews eventually brought him aboard a vessel and took him back to the Tarajal border crossing.
The incident comes as Moroccans contest the conditions of their return from Ceuta. Several say they thought they were being taken to a Spanish reception centre. On 27 October, Spain also returned 16 migrants to Morocco.
