Morocco Cracks Down on Price Gouging and Mask Smuggling Amid Coronavirus Outbreak

The arrests are numerous and varied. The Mohammedia police services arrested a merchant who was selling sterilizing products at exorbitant prices. On Wednesday, he was presented to the public prosecutor’s office.

In the same dynamic, the elements of the judicial police of Aïn Sebaâ, in Casablanca, arrested an importer, as he was about to smuggle a large quantity of protective masks for the benefit of a third party. After seizing the goods, an investigation was opened to determine the country of origin of these masks and to verify whether these products met the applicable health standards.

On Monday, the Joint Provincial Control Commission and the services of the Hay Hassani district prefecture (Casablanca) seized large quantities of food unfit for consumption. In total, 211 kg of red meat from clandestine slaughter, 100 kg of fermented butter (Smen) and other spoiled foods were seized at the Assaâda Ould Mina market, the prefecture said in a statement on Tuesday.

The commission has taken repressive measures against these merchants who "do not hesitate to exploit any opportunity to sell their goods, endangering public health".