Morocco Drug Bust: 8 Arrested, Including Local Official and Naturalized Algerians

A dragnet by the BNPJ. During a security operation, the elements of the brigade arrested last Friday eight people in several areas of the Oriental region, particularly in Aïn Beni Mathar, Ahfir and Oujda, reports the Arabic daily Assabah. One of them is the former president of the commune of Aïn Beni Mathar. His arrest took place in Oujda as he was driving his personal car accompanied by two other accomplices on the road to Jerrada. They were also arrested.

A man who is the subject of a national arrest warrant for drug and psychotropic trafficking and three Algerians who acquired Moroccan nationality in 2021 are also among the eight people arrested. Investigators seized foreign and national license plates, two cars, a large sum of cash and some 100 kg of cannabis resin.

After their arrest, the eight individuals were all taken into custody before being brought before the public prosecutor. On Monday, the investigating judge at the Casablanca Court of Appeal ordered their detention. Investigators from the BNPJ will likely arrest other alleged accomplices in the coming days, whose list they hold.