Authorities in Ouarzazate have dismantled a major fraud network accused of swindling dozens of Moroccans out of large sums of money through fake visa offers and fraudulent work contracts abroad.
Two additional suspects were remanded to prison late Monday, bringing the total number of arrests to four.
Among those detained is an imam from Tangier, who allegedly served as the main intermediary for the suspected ringleader — a travel agency owner based in Salé. The imam is accused of charging victims up to 160,000 Moroccan dirhams, far exceeding the agency’s rates, and facilitating scams targeting more than 20 individuals seeking to perform Hajj or Umrah, or obtain overseas employment.
Another suspect, a resident of Marrakech, is accused of defrauding at least 21 people in a similar manner.
Earlier arrests included a teacher from Tinghir, who also acted as a broker, and the travel agency owner believed to be the mastermind behind the operation.
Investigators say the suspects misled victims into believing they could receive special arrangements for religious pilgrimages or expedited access to jobs abroad. Instead, they became targets of an elaborate scam.
Authorities have so far identified more than 10 victims, with individual losses reaching up to 360,000 dirhams. Police believe the true number of victims may be significantly higher, as many have yet to come forward.
The investigation is ongoing, with efforts focused on identifying additional members of the network, which is believed to have operated across several Moroccan cities.
Police said the suspects exploited people’s hopes for better living conditions or the fulfillment of religious obligations. In many cases, entire families were affected, left devastated after their aspirations were shattered.
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