Massive Alcohol Smuggling Bust in Marrakech: Thousands of Illegal Bottles Seized

This operation was organized "in order to verify the customs status of alcoholic beverage blends and their compliance with health and safety standards," says a statement from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN).

The actions led to the seizure of 62,000 expired beer bottles, 2,937 bottles of alcohol bearing no tax stamp or bearing suspicious stamps, 652 bottles bearing stamps not corresponding to their actual volume, 4,622 bottles bearing out-of-use or non-compliant stamps, 275,186 fraudulent tax stamps and labels, in addition to the seizure of large quantities of expired food products, the same source said.

As for the regulatory procedures, out of 105 classified restaurants, 38 are in violation related to non-compliance with the type of authorization, 48 related to the employment of people without the necessary authorizations, 17 for the absence of the restaurant manager and non-compliance with legal working hours and change of trade name without authorization.

In addition, 48 other violations related to exceeding capacity and non-compliance with the social distancing measures provided for by the state of health emergency, and 11 violations related to the non-wearing of the mandatory mask by employees as required by the measures in force to fight the spread of the new coronavirus.

As a result, three depots are closed until their legal situation is regularized and 39 restaurants for an indefinite period. One restaurant was also closed for 15 days, while another received a warning, according to the statement.

In addition, the managers of these premises have been subjected to preliminary investigations under the supervision of the competent prosecutor’s office in order to determine the extent of their involvement in these violations and criminal acts.