A hacker group known as Jabaroot has followed through on its threats by releasing several lists on social media, allegedly containing personal information of approximately 70,000 purported agents from Morocco's intelligence and security services, according to reports from El Confidencial. This significant data breach comes at a time when Ceuta is grappling with a crisis triggered by the influx of over 70,000 immigrants at the end of July, intensifying the political and social tensions in the region.
The leaked information, partially verified by several former Moroccan intelligence agents consulted by El Confidencial, includes details such as names, national identification numbers, employee numbers, and years of recruitment within the public administration. The documents reportedly impact members of the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), which is responsible for internal intelligence, and the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), the Moroccan police force.
A Major Leak Affecting Thousands of Agents
According to the information disclosed by El Confidencial, one of the lists comprises details of at least 70,000 alleged agents, while a second list provides supplementary information on about 1,400 personnel, detailing their ranks within the agency and banking identification numbers. Notably, the names purportedly include high-ranking officials such as the director of human resources for the DGST, the deputy director of counterintelligence, and the head of the Research Cell. The former agents who spoke to El Confidencial confirmed that some of the individuals named in the lists are indeed affiliated with the DGST. However, it is suggested that these documents may have been obtained some time ago and are only now being released.
The leak is accompanied by messages attributed to Jabaroot, a group whose identity and affiliations remain unclear. Reports from Morocco suggest that Algeria might be linked to the group's origins. The timing of this publication follows Jabaroot's threats to expose these documents, specifically targeting Abdellatif Hammouchi, a senior official overseeing Moroccan intelligence and security agencies, in connection with the events in Ceuta.
Jabaroot claims that the leak demonstrates that the migration of Moroccan citizens to Europe, particularly Spain, is part of an alleged official plan orchestrated by Morocco. This assertion, however, is based solely on the hackers' statements as reported by El Confidencial. Furthermore, Jabaroot asserts that they possess additional documentation revealing the names of agents who, according to their narrative, "orchestrated and coordinated the Ceuta plan." The group claims to have obtained copies of orders directed to agents who traveled to Fnideq, a Moroccan town bordering Ceuta, before and during the crisis.
A History of Leaks and Heightened Tensions
Since August 7, Jabaroot has been disseminating messages related to Ceuta, demanding official apologies for the events that transpired, a national day of mourning, and the postponement of the scheduled legislative elections in Morocco set for September 23. El Confidencial notes that Jabaroot has a long history of leaks dating back to April of last year, including lists of thousands of royal palace employees and millions of social security affiliates, along with documents pertaining to real estate holdings of prominent Moroccan officials. Notable individuals whose data has previously surfaced in leaks include Nasser Bourita, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Yassin Mansouri, director of Morocco's external intelligence agency (DGED), and Mohamed Raji, identified as the number two in the DGST's surveillance operations.
The scale of the current leaks positions this incident as one of the most significant security breaches experienced by Moroccan security services. The timing of the publication coincides with the ongoing diplomatic tensions between Spain and Morocco, sparked by the massive entry of individuals into Ceuta on July 30 and 31. Jabaroot holds the Moroccan security officials accountable for the crisis, explicitly naming Hammouchi. The group also claims that King Mohamed VI was unaware of the events that unfolded.
This narrative aligns partially with prior reports by El Confidencial, which cited testimonies from two exiled former Moroccan agents who suggested that a small power clique may have considered allowing the migratory flow as a response to investigative journalism published in July by various outlets. Nevertheless, it is crucial to note that the accusations made by Jabaroot and the content of the leaks do not independently validate the existence of the alleged plan, and the authenticity of the documents is corroborated only by the sources consulted by El Confidencial.
As reported by elfarodeceuta.es.
