The massive entry of migrants to Ceuta was greater than what the Government said: the Civil Guard estimates that 88,146 returned

The Civil Guard has estimated that "approximately 88,146" migrants "could have returned" to Morocco after the massive entry into Ceuta at the end of July, a figure higher than what the Government had maintained until now, which since the beginning of August had maintained that the number of migrants who had crossed into the autonomous city stood at 80,000.

The estimate comes from a report from the end of October that was made known this Friday and that the Civil Guard has sent to the judge of the National Court María Tardón, who is investigating the massive entry into Ceuta of people from Morocco on July 30 and 31.

Likewise, the report puts the number of deaths confirmed by the Armed Institute at 90 and the number of rescues carried out by personnel from the Special Underwater Activities Groups (GEAS) and the Maritime Service in Spanish waters at 862.

At the request of the judge, the Armed Institute reports that on July 29, the "force in review", that is, the personnel ready to serve, was 585 civil guards out of the total of 695 personnel serving in the Ceuta Command.

As of September 4, there were 441 civil guards and as of October 19, there were 546 agents, according to data provided by the Armed Institute, which details that since July 30, the Civil Guard has maintained a reinforcement device whose composition "has been adapting to operational needs and the corresponding reliefs."

Specifically, units such as the Reserve and Security Group (ARS), units from Andalusia, GEAS, Rapid Action Group (GAR), Maritime Service, Criminalistics Service and Air Service have been part of this device in support of the units already deployed in Ceuta, according to the information provided by the Armed Institute, which also details the technical and aerial means available since the date of the mass entry.

The Moroccan forces, with their arms down

In a previous report, the Civil Guard maintained that the warnings prior to the Ceuta crisis did not predict the massive entry of people that finally occurred across the border on July 30 and 31 from Morocco.

On the other hand, a lieutenant colonel of the Civil Guard testified to Judge Tardón as a witness that the night before the massive entry he saw six Moroccan ships, two of them patrol boats, two interceptors and two minor ones.

He also explained that there were Moroccan authorities giving orders, while he reported that the military of the neighboring country was standing by while thousands of people crossed the border.

Likewise, the lieutenant colonel assured that the border gate is always open and insisted that if it had been closed, as requested by the Police, it could have created a crushing blockage.