Rabat – Moroccan police in Temara, near Rabat, thwarted an attempt to smuggle four tons and 321 kilograms of cannabis on Tuesday evening.
A statement from Morocco’s General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) said the bust was based on information Morocco’s General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance (DGST) provided to the national police in Temara.
During the operation, police arrested five suspects aged between 24 and 50 years, for their alleged involvement in an organized network that operates in trafficking drugs and psychotropic substances over international borders.
The security operation took place in coordination with the Royal Gendarmerie in the city of Skhirat. During their search of two vehicles, police and security services seized 109 bundles of cannabis, totalling four tons and 321 kilograms.
They also impounded four cars, and confiscated money believed to be a part of the dealings.
Police put the suspect in custody pending further investigation to identify potential accomplices, the statement concluded, noting that the operation is part of ongoing efforts by DGSN and DGST to combat international trafficking
DGSN’s latest annual report said Moroccan police handled over 92,300 drug-related cases last year.
As part of the annual security operations, Morocco arrested 119,692 suspects, including 287 foreign nationals, and seized 123 tons and 971 kilograms of cannabis in several drug busts.
Last year’s overall busts include 1.9 tons of cocaine, 16.5 kilograms of heroin, and over 1.4 million of psychotropic substances.
