Illegal Beach Sand Mining Near Tangier Sparks Environmental and Economic Outcry

According to the newspaper Al Akhbar, these operations carried out in broad daylight threaten the coastal ecosystem and the economy of the sector.

The images, filmed by passers-by, show trucks loading sand, particularly on the so-called diplomatic forest beach. Sources cited by the daily newspaper indicate that these unauthorized withdrawals are accelerating the erosion of beaches and the destruction of natural barriers protecting the coastline.

At the same time, the legal professionals in the sand and construction materials transport sector in the Tangier-Tétouan region have warned of the economic consequences of this phenomenon. They denounce an illegal activity that compromises the stability of their industry, causes financial losses and threatens thousands of jobs that depend on it. These extractions would continue in particular in the Houara and Jbilia areas, despite the closure of official quarries.

Faced with this situation, requests have been addressed to the wali of the region to request an intervention. The carriers have also officially seized the Ministry of the Interior, recalling that a previous agreement had made it possible to regulate the sector by ensuring a supply from authorized quarries. They call for action by the authorities to restore a legal framework.