Rabat – Moroccan police in collaboration with customs services seized 37.5 kilograms of cannabis resin in Ceuta.
The security services seized the drugs in separate operations conducted over the past 24 hours, Maghreb Arab Press (MAP) reported.
During the first operation, which took place on Monday evening, members of the police and customs seized 18.5 kilograms of cannabis resin.
The police found the drugs through the search of a Spanish-registered car. Police arrested two suspects, of Spanish and Russian nationality respectively, for further investigation.
On Tuesday morning, another search operation led to the seizure of 19 kilograms of cannabis at the floor of a car registered in Morocco.
The car owner was a Moroccan national. Police put him in custody for further investigation.
Customs also seized on Tuesday, July 23, an amount of money estimated at €10,250 from a Moroccan living abroad. MAP said that the man was carrying the amount of money without authorization from the relevant financial institutions.
The operations are part of Morocco’s strategy to fight against drug trafficking and cross border crimes.
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Moroccan police and customs in Ceuta also aborted an attempt to smuggle 345 kilograms of cannabis resin on Friday, July 19.
Customs sources told MAP that the operation is part of Morocco’s strategy to fight against drug trafficking.
The abortion of the drug trafficking operation is the result of a collaboration between members of the Customs and Excise Administration and the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), operating at the Ceuta crossing point.
Police also arrested two Spanish citizens, a man and a woman for their alleged involvement in drug trafficking. The police seized the cannabis hidden in a caravan.
The suspects are in police custody pending further investigation to determine the circumstances of the case.
Morocco’s government announced; in 2018, that the country has been implementing “a multi-dimensional national strategy to fight illegal drugs and is determined to place civil society at the forefront of this national strategy.”
Mustapha El Khalfi, Spokesperson of the Moroccan government said that over 107,000 people were prosecuted in drug-related cases in 2017.
El Khalfi added that Morocco’s geographical location makes it the focus of dangerous networks which actively promote various types of drugs.
