Moroccan customs crack down on money laundering through import documents

Moroccan customs authorities have stepped up scrutiny of import documents used by companies to illegally transfer large sums of money abroad. 

The scheme involved inflating the value of customs declarations for goods and transferring the excess funds to suppliers outside the country through international bank transfers.

According to Hespress’ informed sources, the suspected money laundering is linked to newly established companies operating in the information systems and database technology sectors.

These companies would import software at inflated prices, in collusion with suppliers in European countries. 

The suppliers would issue invoices with values exceeding the actual cost of the goods, and the difference would be transferred to other bank accounts abroad linked to the importing companies.

Using digital databases, customs officials discovered that significant amounts of money had been smuggled out of the country using fake import documents. 

Invoices for goods were manipulated, and banking channels were exploited by companies with no long-standing customs import or export records.

Customs authorities identified the new money laundering method through random analytical studies conducted by the Customs Department in various sectors. In some cases, field research was conducted within specific companies. 

Customs officials noticed a pattern of repeated imports from the same suppliers and a gradual increase in the value of goods imported by the suspicious companies.

Customs is preparing to use mutual administrative assistance with European customs authorities to request information about the exporting companies dealing with Moroccan importers and the actual value of the goods involved in the trade transaction. 

This information will be compared with the customs declarations issued by the importing companies in Morocco.

The new scrutiny of import documents for money laundering coincides with the adoption of a smart surveillance strategy by the Customs and Indirect Tax Administration. 

This strategy relies on information systems to achieve greater efficiency and decentralization. Central services are using the data provided by various information systems of the commercial logistics chain, such as BADR and Portnet, to conduct audits.

The customs administration relies on a range of technical tools that allow access to all documents and supporting documents related to international trade, including invoices submitted by economic operators during the declaration of import or export operations. 

This is especially important after the complete dematerialization of customs clearance procedures.

The strategy is part of a risk-based approach, which is considered an effective way to achieve the desired balance between efficient control and the facilitation of trade.