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Moroccan YouTuber swims to Jaafarine Islands: Spain launches investigation
Spain’s Ministry of Defense has opened an official investigation after a Moroccan YouTuber managed to swim to the disputed Jaafarine Islands, an archipelago under Spanish control since 1848.
According to the Spanish daily El Faro de Ceuta, the incident is being treated as a serious breach of security, raising questions about how a civilian could reach a territory that is under constant military surveillance. Investigators are examining several possibilities, including a temporary failure of monitoring systems, operational mistakes, or the use of unusual maritime routes to avoid detection.
The 50-minute video, published by the Moroccan YouTuber known as Bn Nsns, who has more than 2.17 million subscribers, quickly went viral in both Spain and Morocco. The footage includes excerpts from TV broadcasts, interactive maps showing the swimmer’s route, and scenes of the YouTuber filming restricted areas reportedly used by the Spanish army for military and scientific purposes.
The video ends with images of a Spanish military helicopter and an inflatable patrol boat circling the islands, known in Spain as the Islas Chafarinas.
The Jaafarine Islands, located a few kilometers east of Nador on Morocco’s northern coast, are considered strategic for maritime surveillance, intelligence gathering, and controlling migration routes. Despite being uninhabited, they are permanently staffed by Spanish troops and remain part of the broader dispute over Spain’s “presides,” which also include Ceuta and Melilla.
While the video sparked a wave of online reactions, the episode has reignited debate over the future of these territories. For Morocco, the islands remain a vestige of colonial history, while for Spain, their sovereignty is a matter of both symbolism and security.