Customs Crackdown: MREs Face Strict Controls and Legal Risks at Moroccan Borders

In customs matters, an offense is constituted by any failure, whether it is an action or an omission, to comply with the legislative and regulatory provisions governing the flow of goods for import and export. For Moroccans Residing Abroad (MREs), this definition applies to concrete and frequent situations upon their return to the country.

These offenses are not, however, uniform and are subject to a precise legal classification. The legislation distinguishes two main categories: offenses and misdemeanors. Offenses, which represent the most serious infractions, are subdivided into two classes. Misdemeanors, of lesser severity, are divided into four distinct classes. This hierarchy determines the nature of the sanction applied to any person, including an MRE, in violation.

The search for these shortcomings is a prerogative entrusted to customs officers. Their mission is carried out through verification and control operations that are particularly visible during periods of high influx of MREs. When an offense or misdemeanor is identified, the authorized agents are obliged to formally record it by drawing up a report detailing the facts.

It should be noted that the competence to establish an infringement of customs laws is not exclusive to the agents of this administration alone. Other state bodies are also authorized for this purpose. Judicial police officers as well as public force inspectors can, in the exercise of their duties, also record such breaches.