Moroccan security forces apprehended nearly 300 migrants and 61 individuals accused of facilitating their journey on Saturday, as authorities intensified border security in response to calls for a new mass crossing into the Spanish exclave of Ceuta.

The arrests occurred during a significant attempt by migrants, primarily from sub-Saharan Africa, to reach Ceuta by land and sea. This latest crackdown follows a period of heightened tension and a severe migration crisis two weeks prior.

Moroccan state broadcaster Medi 1 TV reported the figures, indicating a concerted effort by authorities to prevent unauthorized entry. The individuals detained as facilitators are alleged to have aided the migrants in their attempts to cross the heavily fortified border.

The tightened security measures were implemented after a surge in social media activity that encouraged people to make their way to Ceuta. Both Moroccan and Spanish authorities had reinforced their presence in the region in anticipation of further attempts.

In a separate development on Sunday, hundreds of migrants who had previously reached Ceuta staged a protest on a beach, pleading with Spanish authorities to grant them asylum rather than return them to Morocco. These migrants are among an estimated 5,000 to 8,000 who arrived during the earlier crisis and are now living in challenging conditions while hoping to reach mainland Europe.

Migrants participating in the protest expressed their hardships, with one individual from Tetouan, Morocco, describing sleeping conditions near the sea and difficulties in accessing the city center. They displayed Spanish flags and banners with messages such as "We don’t want to go back to Morocco" and "We are also human."

Spanish Interior Minister Fernando Grande-Marlaska has stated that migrants who entered irregularly will generally not be permitted to remain in Ceuta, travel to mainland Spain, or obtain legal status, with exceptions for cases of extreme vulnerability.

Morocco has reportedly deployed over 20,000 security personnel daily along the border with Ceuta, incurring significant costs. Thousands of migrants annually travel to Morocco fleeing conflict, poverty, and instability, seeking onward routes to Europe.