Israelis Arrested in Morocco for Alleged Passport Fraud Scheme

These arrests follow the opening of an investigation by the police services after the dismantling of a criminal network active in the forgery of documents allowing foreigners, mainly Israelis, to obtain Moroccan nationality.

In a press release, the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) indicates that it has seized a Moroccan national ID card and passport obtained through forgery as well as a residence permit from a Latin American country "whose authenticity is being verified".

The two suspects managed to obtain identity documents by "using forged documents, taking advantage of the services of the criminal network dismantled by the BNPJ in Casablanca," the statement said.

The investigation continues to try to determine the ramifications and probable links of this criminal network, the DGSN also said.

Last month, the police announced the arrest of "five foreigners holding Israeli passports, for their alleged involvement in obtaining Moroccan identity cards and passports through forgery," while a few days earlier, they had arrested a Moroccan of Jewish faith as well as three police officers, an administrative authority agent, an official of an administrative annex, a commercial manager of a travel agency and three people "suspected of having participated in facilitating these criminal acts."