Moroccan Police Arrest Man in Agadir Over Illegal Sale of AFCON Tickets

Rabat – Moroccan police arrested a 37-year-old man on Friday in the city of Agadir on suspicion of illegally reselling tickets for the Africa Cup of Nations (AFCON). 

The Agadir regional unit of the judicial police carried out the arrest in coordination with the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST). According to a security source, the operation followed online monitoring by the National Police, which detected social media posts offering AFCON match tickets for sale outside official channels.

After technical investigations and field inquiries, police identified the suspect and arrested him near a large shopping center in Agadir. Officers found several tickets for AFCON football matches in his possession after searching him. Authorities also seized a sum of money believed to have been obtained from this illegal activity.

The suspect has been placed under judicial investigation under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor. The investigation aims to uncover all circumstances surrounding the case, identify possible accomplices, and determine the exact criminal acts attributed to the suspect.

This arrest is part of a wider national campaign against the sale of AFCON tickets on the black market. Earlier this week, police arrested eight other individuals suspected of involvement in similar activities.

Police carried out security operations in relation to these cases in several Moroccan cities, including Rabat, Temara, Agadir, Salé, Marrakech, and Mohammedia. 

The ongoing investigations are expected to lead to further arrests as police continue to track networks involved in ticket speculation across the country.

The issue of tickets has marred the ongoing AFCON, as these networks bought tickets in bulk as soon as they were available on the official website, preventing genuine supporters from getting a hold of them.

They would then put them on sale on social media groups for exorbitant prices. Tickets that were originally priced at MAD 150 were put on sale for MAD 1,500, 10 times the original price.

As a result, many fans were not able to attend the opening ceremony and Morocco’s opening game, leaving around 10,000 seats empty at the newly renovated Moulay Abdellah Stadium in Rabat.

Moroccan authorities have repeatedly warned against the illegal sale of match tickets, stressing that such practices harm supporters and undermine the fair organization of major sporting events.