Moroccan Authorities Uncover Major Arms Cache Linked to ISIS Cell

The investigation, conducted by the BCIJ under the aegis of the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), made it possible to locate this "rear base" thanks to field information and precise technical data. Nestled in "Tal Mzil", on the east bank of the Oued Guir (commune of Oued El Naam, Boudenib region), the area was difficult to access, a real challenge for the teams. Indeed, the terrain, at the foot of a rocky hill, was only accessible by unpaved roads.

To carry out the operation, the BCIJ deployed considerable resources. Specialized cynological patrols, metal detectors, explosive detection robots and X-ray scanners were mobilized to secure the site and conduct the searches. A veritable arsenal was extracted from the ground: an AK-47 assault rifle and its two magazines, two hunting rifles, ten pistols of various calibers, as well as a large quantity of ammunition. All of this was carefully packaged in plastic bags and Malian newspapers, some dated January 27, 2025.

The investigations reveal that this armament came from a senior Daesh official in the Sahel, in charge of external relations. The latter would have transported the weapons via smuggling networks, before transmitting the GPS coordinates to the members of the dismantled cell. They only had to go to the site to recover the equipment and take action.

The seized arsenal has been placed under seal and will be the subject of in-depth ballistic expertise by the National Police Scientific Laboratory. The investigation, still ongoing, continues under the supervision of the competent prosecutor’s office. It aims to demonstrate the ramifications of this cell and its links with the African branch of Daesh in the Sahel.