Teen Bystander Killed in Ceuta Gang Shootout, Family Seeks Justice

Settling scores between drug trafficking networks have become commonplace in Ceuta since the barons of the Tweety and Tayenas networks stormed the modest neighborhoods of El Príncipe and Los Rosales in the autonomous city. On April 15, 2022, a shootout broke out between these rival gangs. Ibrahim Buselham, a 16-year-old young man who was unfortunately in the wrong place at the wrong time, was shot in the head. "He had nothing to do with them. If he had passed there a minute earlier or five meters further, he would not have died," police sources tell ABC.

Ibrahim’s family, who continue to mourn his sudden departure for more than a year, are demanding justice. "My brother had nothing to do with them. They made a mistake," says Dina Buselham, the victim’s sister, who regrets that her brother’s death has remained unpunished to this day. "His friend had a relationship with the Tayenas. They confused them. The members of these two gangs (Titi and Tayena) do what they want. They can kill you or kidnap you. They go out armed in the street. There is no law. Here, they kill like in a video game," she laments.

Ibrahim was buried in the Sidi Embarek cemetery. A year later, the barons of the two rival gangs received divine judgment, one might say. Tayena was attacked with a firearm in Los Barrios (Cádiz) as he was leaving his home. He died at the La Línea hospital. Ten days later, Tweety was arrested in Manilva. An arrest that has relaunched the investigation into Ibrahim’s murder, a case that had since been closed for lack of evidence. Investigators are waiting to "see how they (the gangs) reorganize. We don’t know if Tweety will try to lead from prison or if others will take his place."