A network of Instagram profiles is actively promoting migration to the Spanish enclave of Ceuta while offering paid guidance on how to make the crossing, according to an investigation. This follows a recent surge in which approximately 78,000 migrants from Morocco arrived in Ceuta over a short period, resulting in at least 100 deaths according to local officials.
The Instagram accounts use what researchers describe as “mirage” content—deceptive videos and images that misrepresent the crossing as safe and straightforward. Some posts show people swimming contentedly despite recent drownings, while others falsely suggest that migrants can easily reach mainland Europe from Ceuta. The accounts charge prospective migrants several hundred pounds for information about routes, with one operator requesting the equivalent of £400 for details about using “sewer pipes” to enter the enclave. When questioned about refunds if crossings fail, operators have not responded substantively.
Nearly 40 of the identified profiles shared common characteristics, including variations of the Arabic term “Haraga”—roughly translated as “those who burn,” referring to migrants who destroy documents to avoid deportation—combined with references to Ceuta. Most appear to be operating from Morocco, though some may be based in Spain or Italy. These accounts have successfully leveraged social media algorithms by posting emotionally engaging content designed to trigger user reactions and viral spread.
The profiles employ coordinated tactics, directing interested parties to shared WhatsApp numbers and email addresses for payment processing via bank transfer. When contacted by the BBC using both real and dummy accounts, several operators initially responded, though some later deleted their communications. Platform owner Meta stated it has teams monitoring the situation in real time and removing content that facilitates human smuggling, with several profiles being removed following BBC contact.
The situation reflects broader concerns about how social media algorithms can amplify content promoting illegal migration while simultaneously fueling diplomatic tensions between Morocco and Spain over border control and the influx of migrants into Ceuta.
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