Guardia Civil and Policía Nacional activate in Melilla from Sunday night the Operación Feriante 2026, to prevent migrants from making concealed crossings as stowaways in fairground rides, lorries and trailers. The aim is to ensure that, after the patron saint festivities, the loading of fairground equipment onto ferries to Málaga, Almería and Motril takes place without uncontrolled travel. The Delegación del Gobierno en Melilla has scheduled the special operation for 7 to 9 September.
According to the Delegación del Gobierno en Melilla, the Guardia Civil, Policía Nacional and Policía Local are working together under a coordinated plan. In the port area, the Guardia Civil, in its role as the state’s Resguardo Fiscal is responsible for customs and border checks. Particular attention is being paid to the loading of rides, articulated lorries and other heavy transport. The Policía Nacional is responsible for police measures to establish identities and determine the legal status of people apprehended. According to the authorities, other security duties at border crossings, the port and the airport continue unchanged.
The operation follows similar deployments in previous years. Those checks also aimed to find people hiding in the transport of fairground equipment. The authorities say the operation is repeated because the compact loading period after the town festivities carries increased risks, with numerous vehicles passing through the port terminal in a short time.
For fairground ride operators and haulage companies, the increased checks mean additional inspections and possible delays. The administration says its priorities are protecting lawful movement and maintaining public order. Humanitarian and legal assessments remain the responsibility of the relevant police services and administrative authorities. According to the authorities, any extension of the operation in terms of area or duration will depend on developments on the ground and would be announced separately.
The start on Sunday night has been highlighted in Spanish media reports; the Delegación del Gobierno en Melilla explicitly gives 7 to 9 September as the core period. The agencies involved have not yet made specific predictions about the effectiveness of this year’s Operación Feriante.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).