Doha – A joint operation by elements of the National Security and Customs working at the El Guergarat border crossing south of the city of Dakhla thwarted on Tuesday an attempt to smuggle into Morocco a shipment of 37.635 kg of cocaine.
Border surveillance operations and thorough inspection led to the seizure of this shipment of hard drugs, consisting of 36 plates carefully hidden in the cabin of an international freight transport truck registered in Morocco.
The truck was transporting a shipment of dried fruit and was intercepted immediately after arriving at the El Guergarat border crossing from a sub-Saharan African country. The Moroccan driver, reported to be 30, was also arrested.
The security services have opened an investigation under the supervision of the public prosecutor’s office to determine all the local and international ramifications of this criminal activity, as well as to arrest all those involved in its perpetration.
This security operation is part of the intensive efforts made by the services of the General Directorate of National Security to combat international drug trafficking, specifically the illicit trade in hard drugs and psychotropic substances smuggled from outside Morocco.
This operation comes just days after a similar incident on September 17, where the regional customs office of Dakhla-Oued Eddahab foiled an attempt to smuggle 38 kg of cocaine into Morocco at the El Guergarat border crossing.
The drugs were concealed in a hiding place inside the cab of a vehicle coming from abroad.
Morocco’s efforts in combating drug trafficking have been recognized internationally. In April, Morocco was re-elected, for a third term, as a member of the International Narcotics Control Board, in the person of Jalal Toufiq, during the elections held by the United Nations Economic and Social Council.
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