Morocco Uncovers Massive Import Tax Evasion Scheme

The suspected modus operandi consisted of declaring values much lower than the actual prices of the goods, particularly those from China. The importers officially transferred, through the banks, only a portion of the amount owed to foreign suppliers to minimize the customs duties to be paid, according to Hespress.

To settle the rest, the network would have used a parallel circuit. Brokers based in China advanced the local currency needed to pay the suppliers. In return, the Moroccan importers paid the equivalent in dirhams to Chinese nationals residing in Morocco. These funds were then legally repatriated to China under the cover of commercial activity profits.

The investigation, conducted by the national customs brigade, concerns more than 20 importers and undeclared financial flows estimated at least 870 million dirhams. The investigators have established contacts with their counterparts in the supplier countries to trace all the transactions.