Massive Seizure of Kif: Originating from Neighboring Morocco, Over a Quintal Confiscated (Video)
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- In a significant breakthrough, security services in the wilaya of Oran have successfully dismantled a dangerous transnational criminal gang involved in drug trafficking. The group, consisting of six suspects, was apprehended following intelligence indicating the arrival of a drug shipment from neighboring Morocco.
The Arrest and Seizure
Acting on credible information, the security services conducted a well-coordinated operation that led to the arrest of the suspects. The subsequent search yielded a staggering 165 kilograms of treated kif, also known as cannabis resin, highlighting the magnitude of the criminal enterprise. In addition to the drugs, authorities also confiscated two harpoon guns and a vehicle used for transporting the illicit substances.
Transnational Criminal Gang
The apprehended suspects are believed to be part of a larger transnational criminal gang engaged in drug trafficking. One of the arrested individuals was already subject to an arrest warrant for drug-related offenses, underscoring the seriousness of their criminal involvement. The gang’s activities not only pose a threat to the region but also serve as a clear example of the cross-border nature of drug trade and the need for international cooperation to combat such criminal networks effectively.
Legal Proceedings
Following their arrest, the suspects were presented before the court of Filaoucen in the wilaya of Tlemcen. The charges brought against them include forming a transnational criminal gang, drug possession, drug trafficking, and possession of prohibited weapons. The legal proceedings will serve to ensure that justice is served and act as a deterrent to others involved in similar illegal activities.
Morocco’s Role in Drug Trafficking: Is Morocco’s Regime Protecting Drug Barons?
The Makhzen has recently come under scrutiny for its involvement in a drug lord protection scandal. The case of Mehdi Zouhairi, a Moroccan artist who was sentenced to ten years in prison by the court of Boulogne in France for his involvement in drug trafficking, has shed light on a protection system that appears to be closely linked to the Makhzen. This system allows drug traffickers to evade arrest and prosecution by taking refuge in Morocco, despite the existence of international arrest warrants and sentences exceeding 10 years.
Mehdi Zouhairi, a rapper and producer, is said to lead an international drug trafficking network that generates over 5 million euros in revenue. After being sentenced to ten years in prison and fined more than two million euros, he fled to Morocco to avoid justice. Media sources have reported that the Moroccan regime is actively protecting Zouhairi and other drug lords from prosecution, despite their criminal status in Europe.
The Makhzen’s apprehension towards the exposure of their drug empire’ secrets is a matter of great concern. The recent Mehdi Zouhairi case has brought to light the Makhzen’s fear of revealing the illegal activities that they have been conducting outside the purview of international law. The drug trafficking networks that the Makhzen is involved in are often comprised of Moroccans, artists, university students, and individuals from various fields. Some of these individuals may resort to violence to settle scores, as evidenced by the recent incident in Spain where a young Moroccan killed a drug baron.
These cases and incidents are often utilized as a means of settling scores between the barons of international networks involved in illegal drug trafficking, in order to prevent the discovery of the Makhzen’s plans. The Moroccan authorities appear to be willing to go to great lengths to protect these criminals, even if it means sacrificing their international reputation and violating international laws.
The Makhzen has found itself ensnared in a web of conspiracies, leading to a dead end. The case of the fugitive Moroccan artist, Mehdi Zouhairi, is a prime example of this. If Zouhairi were to be apprehended, it would expose further criminal plans of the Moroccan regime. This precarious situation poses a significant threat to the credibility and reputation of the Moroccan regime on the international stage, raising questions about the country’s commitment to combating drug trafficking and collaborating with other nations to dismantle criminal networks.
Counterfeit Notes Trafficking
In addition to drug trafficking, Morocco is also implicated in a separate criminal case involving the trafficking of counterfeit banknotes. The investigation into this case was initiated during the festival of Aid El Adha, a time when significant amounts of money are exchanged for buying and selling livestock, particularly sheep.
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