Rabat – The Moroccan prison authority has reported cases of illegal substances being smuggled into several prisons during the Eid Al Fitr holiday.
Some inmates’ families took advantage of the special Eid exception that allowed food baskets, known as “qaffa”, to be delivered to inmates. These families hid illegal items, including psychotropic pills, inside sweets and other food items.
The statement warned that these substances can seriously affect prison security and discipline when consumed by inmates.
The General Delegation for Prison Administration said that authorities took immediate legal action against those involved and informed the relevant public prosecutors about the incidents.
The delegation noted that the “qaffa” was the main way used to smuggle these illegal substances. It added that it will no longer tolerate such actions and will take all necessary steps in the future to protect the safety and security of prisoners, staff, and prison facilities.
The prison authority had allowed families to deliver food baskets to inmates as a special gesture for Eid Al Fitr, an exception to the usual ban.
The delegation has announced that the initiative was permitted once, starting from the second day of Eid, for one week, following a schedule set by prison authorities.
It noted that the move aims to support prisoners’ mental well-being and strengthen family ties during the holiday. The rule also applies to foreign inmates, who can receive baskets through diplomatic channels.
In the past, families in Morocco were allowed to bring food baskets to their relatives in prison. However, the practice was banned after several similar cases of smuggling illegal items, including drugs, into prison facilities.
Now, the prison authority only allows food baskets as a special exception on certain religious occasions, such as Eid Al Fitr.
