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Rabat – One of the main suspects in the case of the drug smuggling tunnel discovered between Ceuta and Morocco has been released from prison after posting a bail of €20,000.
The man, the brother of Ceuta’s regional deputy Mohamed Ali Duas, was freed following a decision by Spain’s National Court, which partially accepted a request for release on humanitarian and medical grounds.
According to Spanish outlet La Razón, the defense argued that the suspect’s continued detention posed a serious risk to his health due to thyroid issues requiring specialized endocrinological care that was unavailable in prison.
Medical reports presented to the court indicated that he had lost around eight kilograms since his arrest – a factor that weighed heavily in the court’s ruling.
The suspect was arrested on February 2 during “Operation Hades,” led by Spain’s Civil Guard, which uncovered a sophisticated tunnel connecting Ceuta to northern Morocco.
Investigators believe the passage was used to transport hashish to Algeciras, concealed in trucks equipped with hidden compartments.
In its decision, the court acknowledged the ongoing investigation’s findings, which point to the existence of a criminal network operating with “a high degree of immunity,” allegedly supported by members of the Civil Guard stationed at Ceuta’s port.
Despite strong evidence linking the man to the smuggling operation, the court determined that the risk of flight had lessened after eight months in custody.
Residing in Spain with his family, he was deemed to have stable social ties reducing the likelihood of absconding.
Under the terms of his conditional release, the suspect must report to the court on the 1st and 15th of each month.
His brother, Deputy Mohamed Ali Duas, remains in detention as part of the same investigation into the cross-border narcotics network.
