Moroccan authorities are ramping up efforts to combat international drug trafficking, seizing significant quantities of narcotics in a series of high-profile operations as 2024 draws to a close.
Officials have focused on international transport trucks, frequently used by traffickers to smuggle drugs into Europe. Several major busts were reported this month, underscoring Morocco’s commitment to cracking down on the illicit trade.
On Dec. 18, judicial police in Beni Mellal, working with the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, intercepted nearly four metric tons of hashish, authorities said.
In another operation on Dec. 11, a joint team from National Security and customs seized 3.6 metric tons of hashish at the Port of Casablanca. The drugs were concealed in a shipping container bound for a European port.
Earlier this month, on Dec. 6, border officials at the Guerguerat crossing near Dakhla seized 136 kilograms of cocaine. The shipment originated in an African country and was reportedly en route to Morocco.
Security experts say drug cartels are particularly active at the end of the year, hoping to exploit heightened security deployments for holiday events. However, Morocco’s strategic approach has proven resilient.
“Morocco’s security strategy relies on both direct intervention and international cooperation,” said Ihssan Hafidi, a professor of security policy. “These efforts have consistently disrupted the activities of trafficking networks.”
Mohamed Noufel Amr, head of the Afro-Mediterranean Center for Strategic Thinking, praised Morocco’s use of intelligence and technology in fighting drug trafficking. He said this approach has earned international recognition, including honors for key Moroccan officials such as Abdellatif Hammouchi, head of National Security and DGST.
Morocco remains a key transit point for drug trafficking to Europe, but authorities have demonstrated their ability to adapt and evolve to address the challenges posed by international cartels.
add your comment
Terms of publication : Not to offend the writer, people, sacred things, or attack religions or the divine self, and refrain from racist incitement and insults.