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Rabat – Moroccan security forces in Marrakech apprehended a 37-year-old French citizen of Algerian origin on Thursday after receiving information from the General Directorate for National Security (DGSN).
The French national is the subject of an international arrest warrant issued by French judicial authorities.
Interpol’s database revealed his status to be an internationally wanted criminal under a red notice, issued by the Central Office for National Security in Paris.
A Red Notice is a request issued by Interpol to law enforcement worldwide to locate and provisionally arrest a person pending extradition.
The warrant was issued in connection with a prison sentence imposed by the French judiciary, according to Moroccan authorities.
The fugitive was involved in a criminal network responsible for a high-profile art heist in 2018, and authorities were finally able to complete the arrest.
The robbery targeted three valuable art pieces, including one belonging to a renowned French painter.
The detained individual is suspected to be linked to the criminal network that executed the art theft. Further investigations will be conducted to establish his role and involvement in the operation.
Pending transfer to the relevant public prosecutor’s office, the suspect is currently under provisional custody.
The National Central Bureau in Rabat, known as “Interpol Rabat,” a unit of the General Directorate for National Security, has been assigned the task of notifying French authorities about the arrest and the impending extradition process.
Moroccan and French law enforcement agencies have regularly collaborated to capture various individuals accused of transnational crimes through international cooperation channels.
In addition, Morocco continues to collaborate with Interpol to track down and bring to justice individuals involved in various criminal activities, including drug trafficking, terrorism, and organized crime.
