The Moroccan government has officially blamed human smugglers and the spread of disinformation for the recent surge of migrants into the Spanish city of Ceuta. This marks Rabat’s first statement regarding the events of Thursday, when an estimated 40,000 to 60,000 migrants crossed the border from Morocco, according to Spanish and Ceutan authorities respectively. The Moroccan government disputes the higher figure, stating around 40,000 individuals entered Ceuta. Nearly all of the migrants have since left the city, though several thousand remain. The crisis has sparked diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges of migration management in the region, and the role of criminal networks.