Moroccan Customs Bust 780M Money Laundering Drug Network Spain Belgium

The National Financial Intelligence Authority was alerted by customs services following the detection of suspicious transactions totaling 780 million dirhams. The case involves three companies based in Casablanca and Tangier. Using artificial intelligence systems to analyze risks, investigators identified invoice manipulations and fraudulent use of bank guarantee accounts, according to Hespress.

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The investigations revealed a blatant overvaluation of export prices, exceeding market rates by more than a third. By comparing this data with that of other operators in the same sector, customs estimated approximately 270 million dirhams as the direct amount of these artificial margins. This technique aimed to justify the repatriation of colossal sums of dubious origin to the Kingdom.

Conversely, the import process was used to channel capital flight under the cover of fake transactions. One company simulated disputes with foreign suppliers or logistics blockages to justify incomplete transfers abroad. Another company, partly owned by foreign investors, inflated its import invoices in collusion with Belgian exporters to cover fictitious deliveries.

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Faced with the scale of this two-way financial scheme, Moroccan controllers sought support from their counterparts in Spain and Belgium. These joint investigations made it possible to establish compromising links between these national companies and European business partners. According to the conclusions of this cross-border coordination, some of these foreign associates would be directly involved in international drug trafficking criminal networks.