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Rabat- According to the Moroccan news source Al Massae the suitcases of a number of public figures were stolen upon their arrival in Casablanca airport.
In addition to the President of Cote D’Ivoire, a number of Mauritanian Ministers and a Mauritanian delegate for food security were also victims of theft at the airport. The airport authorities were taken aback when one of the victims reported the theft of his suitcase.
Al Massae recalls that the suitcases of Ivorian President Alassane Ouattara and his accompanying delegation had disappeared before the police arrived. The newspaper points out that in recent months, cases of theft have become recurrent, which has prompted airport authorities to equip the targeted areas with cameras.
According to the daily Akhbar Allyoum which also reported the details on the case, among the stolen belongings was a royal gift offered to the Ivorian president after his participation at the African Summit in Marrakech.
The royal gift consisted of communications and next generation phones. The disappearance of these gifts sparked a state of alert at the airport Friday and Saturday. The use of GPS, installed on the phones, led to the discovery of the suspects, who reside near the airport; seven of whom are now behind bars.
According to the same source, Moroccan airport authority have conducted an internal investigation, using surveillance video leading to the suspension of 62 employees, including baggage handlers and security officers.
Investigation regarding this series of theft was entrusted to a senior officer of the Royal Gendarmerie who appointed a task force to investigate the cases. The task force has identified people suspected of stealing phones and souvenirs in diplomatic bags in the main cargo area.
 Edited by Sahar Kian
