Spain’s North African exclave of Ceuta is facing mounting pressure at its borders, with authorities warning that traffickers are now training migrants to use paragliders to fly into the territory in a bid to evade traditional controls.
According to reporting from La Gaceta, more than 2,000 illegal entries have already been recorded in Ceuta in 2026, roughly four times higher than during the same period last year, with officials warning the situation shows no sign of slowing.
While mass attempts to scale the border fence and crossings by sea remain common, security sources say a new “aerial route” is gaining traction. Moroccan trafficking networks are allegedly teaching sub-Saharan migrants how to operate paragliders, enabling them to bypass the heavily fortified double fence and land directly into Spanish territory.
Images obtained by the outlet are said to show training sessions, with footage circulating in large messaging groups numbering tens of thousands of users, suggesting growing interest in the tactic among would-be migrants.
Spanish authorities have already detected multiple cases. The Civil Guard confirmed that a paraglider was found abandoned near the El Príncipe area of Ceuta, a sensitive zone close to the border. Officials say similar incidents have previously been recorded in Melilla, with at least four cases identified across the two enclaves.
Although still considered relatively rare, officers warn that the method could spread rapidly. “It’s no longer just a maritime or land problem; now there’s an air component,” one source said.
Security officials say limited personnel and gaps in surveillance — particularly in deteriorating sections of the border fence — are being exploited by trafficking networks that are constantly adapting their methods.
In one incident reported in February, a migrant attempting to paraglide into Ceuta failed to clear the border, becoming stranded on the first of the two fences after losing altitude due to poor wind conditions and limited flying experience.
Authorities say such attempts could become more dangerous if the trend accelerates. Civil Guard sources have warned that paragliding requires a level of skill many of the migrants do not possess, raising fears of serious injuries or fatalities if inexperienced individuals attempt the crossing.
“We don’t have the resources to monitor the skies as we should. The criminal organizations already know where the agents are deployed, and paragliding is a way to outsmart them. Paragliding also requires a certain level of skill, so we will soon start finding dead bodies,” the source told 20minutos.
