The Policía Nacional on Tuesday, 20 October 2026, found 74 people without regular residence status in a flat in the district of El Príncipe of the Spanish exclave Ceuta . According to the authorities, ten minorswere among them. The people were housed in cramped conditions; several had injuries suggesting dog bites . A man was arrested. He is alleged to have organised the accommodation and intended to take some of the people to the Spanish mainland .
Police link the operation to an ongoing series of investigations into so-called pisos patera , flats where migrants are temporarily hidden and prepared for further stages of their journey. According to investigators, the raid followed earlier surveillance in El Príncipe. The public prosecutor is examining whether this is a case of facilitating irregular migration in an organised manner. The authorities initially gave no details about the individuals’ nationalities or cases.
The minors are expected to be placed under the care of the child and youth protection system; the others are being identified and referred for legal proceedings. The authorities have not made public any further information about their health or hospitalisations. Police stressed that age assessments and identity checks are still under way and that further arrests cannot be ruled out.
Ceuta has seen repeated action against pisos patera in recent months. On 20 October, security forces reported finding around 100 migrants at various addresses in the same city during coordinated operations, along with several arrests. In mid-September, the Guardia Civil dismantled accommodation in Ceuta where 24 people were staying. According to police, the latest raids are mainly targeting networks ranging from precarious accommodation to suspected organised transfers.
Politically, the authorities in Ceuta are under pressure to conduct due legal processes swiftly while also ensuring the protection of minors. Human rights organisations have repeatedly warned about the risks of extremely cramped accommodation; the dog bites now reported underline the dangers of such arrangements. The criminal consequences of the current case will depend on the findings of the investigation ; decisions on detention, charges and possible deportations rest with the courts and immigration authorities.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).