Moroccan Police Bust Major Real Estate Fraud Ring, Arrest 21 Including Officials

Based on information provided by the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST), the elements of the National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNPJ) conducted investigations into the activities of a criminal group, which proved fruitful. They dismantled this network and also arrested 21 people in the cities of Béni Mellal, Ouarzazate, Azrou, Tinghir, Aïn Taoujdate and Imouzzer, reports Le360. Among them are a notary, a municipal councilor, civil servants and municipal employees. According to the preliminary investigation, the accused would be involved in the falsification of property titles, the use of false witnesses and the attempted appropriation of public and private property, including those belonging to foreigners.

Some of the defendants are suspected of being involved in scams targeting people seeking to emigrate, from whom they extorted sums of money in exchange for false promises of obtaining visas and foreign employment contracts. During the search and seizure operations, many forged property documents, work contracts and visas, computer equipment used for counterfeiting, as well as receipts for money transfers likely to come from these criminal activities were seized.

Pending the elucidation of this case, the determination of the possible ramifications of this criminal activity and the arrest of all possible accomplices involved in these crimes, the suspects have been taken into custody.