Moroccan Authorities Bust Major Edible Oil Counterfeiting Ring, Seize 30 Tons

The elements of the Royal Gendarmerie of Mohammedia, in collaboration with their colleagues from Mediouna, managed to track down and dismantle this network which was storing this quantity of edible oil in a scrapyard in Mohammedia and Mediouna, reports Al Akhbar.

The case broke out when the gendarmerie elements received precise information about this trafficking. The investigations carried out made it possible to locate the illegal depot of Chellalat where tankers came to unload their stock of edible oil. A raid by the investigators on the premises made it possible to seize 10 tons of edible oil packaged in 5-liter cans and the equipment used for its bottling.

The investigations also made it possible to discover another scrapyard in Mediouna where the same trafficking was taking place. The raid by the investigators made it possible to seize 20 tons of oil packaged in 50 and 100 liter barrels. As for the accused, they fled before the arrival of the gendarmerie elements. Two suspects managed to escape on board two semi-trailers.

The public prosecutor’s office at the court of first instance in Mohammedia was immediately informed. Alerted, the officials of the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA) went to the scene to take samples of this edible oil and check its composition. The investigations continue in order to uncover the ramifications of this network of traffickers and to arrest the perpetrators.