U.S. authorities praise Morocco security cooperation in arms trafficking case

U.S. judicial authorities have praised Morocco’s security services for their advanced level of cooperation in dismantling an international criminal network accused of trafficking military-grade weapons to drug cartels.

The commendation, issued by the Virginia U.S. Attorney’s Office, comes as a federal trial is underway in the United States involving a transnational network linked to arms smuggling operations benefiting South American drug trafficking groups.

Two suspects, Bulgarian national Petar Dimitrov Mirchev and Kenyan national Elisha Odhiambo Asumo, are standing trial after being extradited from Spain and Morocco. They face charges of conspiracy tied to what U.S. authorities described as “narco-terrorism,” for allegedly supplying military weapons to Mexican drug cartels, including Jalisco New Generation Cartel.

According to U.S. officials, the smuggled weapons included machine guns, rocket launchers, grenades, night-vision equipment, sniper rifles, land mines and anti-aircraft systems.

Authorities said dismantling the network was the result of extensive international coordination and cross-border investigations. The operation involved the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration, including its Bilateral Investigations Unit, as well as the Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs, in cooperation with authorities in Ghana, Spain and Morocco.

Morocco’s contribution included the involvement of the General Directorate of National Security and the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, which worked closely with U.S. counterparts.

The praise highlights the growing level of security cooperation between U.S. law enforcement agencies and Moroccan services, which has enabled multiple joint operations targeting international trafficking networks and led to the arrest of dozens of suspects involved in cross-border criminal activities.