Police Dismantle Criminal Gang in Fez, Arrest 7 Including Extremists

The seven individuals, including a former inmate and two extremists, were arrested during a joint operation carried out by the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) and the BNPJ in the early hours of this Wednesday in Fez. They were apprehended for attacks on the security of property and persons, and criminal organization.

According to the police, the defendants engaged in "Fay’e" acts, which consist of extorting or seizing the property of those considered to be infidels. They particularly target fruit and vegetable vendors in the markets of Fez. They have to give a certain amount to have the right to sell in the said market.

To coordinate their criminal activities, they rented a kiosk within the market and in which the police found various sizes of bladed weapons, fake tax stamps and administrative seals, as well as other unidentified documents, a motorcycle with fake papers and significant sums of money.

An investigation has been opened to determine all the possible ramifications of this criminal gang and its links with the extremists, to identify any possible accomplices. Pending the conclusion of the investigations, the seven defendants were placed in detention.