Moroccan army allegedly transports dozens of orphan girls to Ceuta
Sixty-eight girls from a Moroccan orphanage say they were taken by the army and forced to cross into Ceuta, a claim a local resident relayed to authorities.
According to a Ceuta resident identified as Juan José, a group of 68 Moroccan girls between 10 and 14 years old claim they were removed from an orphanage located over 450 km from the border. They say the Moroccan army woke them at dawn, loaded them onto a bus, and told them to go to Ceuta. When the bus reached the frontier, the girls were taken off and urged to cross into the enclave.
Juan José, who works at the reception centre where the girls are now staying, says the Spanish government and intelligence services have been informed and regard the matter as grave. He expressed skepticism toward official assurances and warned that further details may emerge.
Why it matters
The allegation raises concerns about child trafficking and cross-border cooperation between Morocco and Spain.
How this story developed
- Sep 6 Twenty-one Moroccan migrants detained after stone attacks on troops in Ceuta
- Sep 14 Eight people were detained in connection with robberies and assaults that occurred across the city.
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