Moroccan Airports: A "Blacklist" of 17 Suspects Triggers Maximum Alert at the Borders

The noose is tightening around travelers. An alert transmitted by Madrid has forced the deployment of an exceptional system targeting organized networks that use Morocco as a rear base or transit zone, reports Hespress. The Spanish authorities have provided the identity of Moroccans and dual nationals involved, some of whom are said to have links with businessmen active in import-export.

Surveillance is now surgical at checkpoints. Agents from the Customs Administration and the Foreign Exchange Office now directly inspect passengers, tracking gold, jewelry and luxury watches. These objects often serve as a cover to move capital: inspectors meticulously verify the consistency between the invoices presented and the real value of the goods to uncover forged documents.

The promised sanction for fraudsters is heavy. The Foreign Exchange Office applies a zero-tolerance policy with fines that can reach six times the seized amounts, accompanied by prison sentences ranging from three months to five years. Behind the scenes, the hunt extends to bank accounts: banks must provide details of the transfers of the suspected persons, while the use of the annual tourist allowance of 100,000 dirhams is subject to rigorous examination to stop the hemorrhage of foreign exchange.