Rabat – The Royal Gendarmerie carried out a major nighttime operation in Bouskoura, near Casablanca, leading to the seizure of more than five tons of red meat stored in unsanitary conditions in the Ouled Saleh area, according to Al Ahdath Al Maghribia.
The operation, conducted late Tuesday, followed the inspection of a suspicious vehicle at a judicial checkpoint. The driver’s nervous behavior and the nature of the cargo immediately raised concerns among the gendarmes. Investigations quickly traced the shipment to a clandestine warehouse on the outskirts of Nouaceur, used for illegal slaughtering and storage of meat.
Inside the warehouse, authorities discovered large quantities of meat intended for distribution across Casablanca neighborhoods and surrounding communes. The products, lacking any documentation verifying their origin, were deemed unfit for human consumption.
Inspections revealed deplorable storage conditions, including the absence of refrigeration and basic hygiene standards. Preliminary checks by veterinary authorities confirmed signs of decomposition, posing serious health risks. Consumption of such meat could have caused severe food poisoning and other complications, particularly among vulnerable populations.
The warehouse owner and the vehicle driver were taken into custody and are expected to appear before the competent public prosecutor, as investigations continue to determine possible accomplices and the full scope of the operation.
Authorities noted that the meat was intended for sale during the Ramadan period, when demand for food products typically rises. By intercepting the shipment, the Royal Gendarmerie prevented what could have become a major public health crisis.
On the instructions of the public prosecutor, all seized meat was destroyed and buried on Wednesday morning under the supervision of the National Office for Food Safety (ONSSA) and gendarmerie officials, ensuring that the products could not re-enter the commercial market.
This seizure is part of intensified preventive campaigns by the Royal Gendarmerie against illegal slaughtering and practices that endanger public health. Authorities have emphasized that such inspections and investigations will continue rigorously to dismantle illicit networks and protect consumers.
