Grocer Arrested in Morocco for Illegal Production and Sale of Face Masks

According to the daily Al Massae, this grocer, whose shop specializes in the sale of food products, was curiously attracting a large clientele who came to stock up on masks to protect themselves against the coronavirus.

The first health checks by the local authorities, in collaboration with police officers and auxiliary forces, led to the arrest of the merchant for selling unauthorized goods that do not meet minimum health and safety standards.

The defendant, brought before the public prosecutor’s office near the Guelmim court, provided the names of his two accomplices: a supplier who had these makeshift masks made by a well-known tailor in the largest kissaria in Guelmim. In addition, significant equipment consisting of sewing machines, multi-colored fabrics, some 300 boxes of Kleenex paper and a batch of 280 ready-to-be-delivered masks were seized in his workshop, the same daily reports.

Placed in custody, the three accomplices will be presented this Wednesday before the judge of the court of first instance of Guelmim to answer the charges against them.