Morocco’s National Customs Brigade has launched an extensive investigation into the illegal exploitation of the “temporary admission” system by several importers and manufacturing companies, following reports that raw materials imported duty-free under this scheme were sold on the local market instead of being re-exported as required by law.
According to Hespress AR sources, the investigations—based on detailed intelligence from the Customs Risk Management and Monitoring Unit—have implicated more than 160 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) operating in key manufacturing sectors, particularly textiles.
These companies are alleged to have generated illicit profits by selling goods that were exempt from customs duties intended strictly for export purposes.
The audit process, which focused on suspect import operations through the ports of Casablanca, Tanger Med, and Agadir, was triggered by alerts from local markets indicating unusual volumes of certain raw materials inconsistent with legal domestic production or authorized imports.
In an apparent attempt to mislead customs officials, some companies based in Casablanca claimed that the goods found in the market were sold as “scrap” due to damage sustained during importation. However, a review of export declarations and sector-specific spoilage allowances revealed serious customs violations.
Several companies were referred to the Disputes and Collections Department for negotiations over settlement agreements and the payment of penalties and fines.
The temporary admission system allows for the importation of raw materials exempt from duties, provided they are re-exported after processing. It is strictly monitored by the General Directorate of Customs, especially through the advanced “BADR” digital platform, which uses algorithms to detect suspicious activity.
Other companies, according to Hespress AR sources, argued that they were unable to export their products due to declining demand in key foreign markets, particularly in Europe, including France and Spain, amid economic downturns. Despite this, failure to meet the legal deadlines for re-exporting imported materials constitutes a breach of the system’s regulations and incurs financial sanctions.
Initial findings revealed that significant quantities of imported raw materials were diverted from the production-export cycle and sold locally in violation of the law, reflecting widespread misuse of a customs regime intended to support Morocco’s export economy.
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