Moroccan Police Seize 1 Million Smuggled Alcohol Bottles in Multi-City Raid

Nearly 1,000,000 bottles of smuggled alcoholic beverages, 203,016 tax stamps that employees had stuck on some of the seized goods, as well as an amount of money estimated at 923 million centimes: this is the haul seized by the police at the end of these simultaneous operations in 10 warehouses and alcohol shops in Had Soualem, Casablanca, Khouribga, Oued Zem and Béni Mellal, according to a statement from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN).

According to the initial findings of the judicial police officers, some of the seized alcoholic beverages are expired, while the rest are of foreign origin without tax stamps proving their regular status with Customs, the same source adds.

A preliminary investigation has been initiated in coordination with the Customs and Indirect Taxes Administration and the National Office of Food Safety (ONSSA), as to the legality of the possession of these alcoholic beverages and their harmlessness, the DGSN continues. The inspections are ongoing.