Morocco Cracks Down on Illegal Jet Ski Rentals in Northern Coast

In addition to the arrest of the two individuals, the elements of the Royal Gendarmerie in the Arekmane region also proceeded to seize their jet skis. Their investigations revealed that the suspects were operating the jet skis and renting them to visitors for a fee without obtaining the required license for such seasonal maritime activities.

Recently, the royal gendarmerie and national security forces of the city of Tangier have been instructed to strengthen controls on jet skis in northern Morocco, during this summer period. The local authorities responsible for the regions of Tangier, Tetouan and Al Hoceima have strengthened coordination between their services as part of the implementation of preventive security measures with the start of summer, it is recalled. The procedures for renting jet skis and pleasure boats, which are exploited by criminal groups for illicit activities, have been tightened. Jet skis have recently become the most used means by drug traffickers due to their speed. Strict measures have also been put in place to prevent certain people wanted by the justice system from entering or leaving Morocco illegally.

The police forces have meanwhile carried out a large-scale operation to identify jet skis to ensure that certain individuals wanted by the justice system for their involvement in drug trafficking are not among the users of these devices for criminal purposes and to verify the jet skis that trucks or cars are transporting, as well as the identity of their owners. The harvest proved fruitful: they seized all jet skis whose documents are not in order, both on the beaches and on the roads where they are towed or transported by cars or trucks.