Morocco: 58 security officers arrested

  1. Posted on Sunday 25 January 2009 - 07:05
    KingsleyKobo
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    Kingsley Kobo, AfricaNews reporter in Abidjan, Ivory Coast
    A total of 58 Moroccan security officials have been arrested since the dismantling of a subtle drug trafficking network in Nador - northern part of the country - some days ago. According to the justice ministry, the officials are made up 29 royal marines, 17 gendarmerie and 12 from auxiliary forces.
    Morocco map
    They allegedly abetted a Moroccan drug trafficker simply known as M.L. in his illicit activities. M.L. and his accomplices are presumed to have exported about 30 tons of hashish from the Moroccan side of the Mediterranean coast, to Belgium and the Netherlands via Spain. Zodiac speed boats were likely used in the transportation, according to the ministry.

    Some 20 civilians were also arrested by the police for the different roles they played alongside the accused 58 security officials in this affair. Investigations are still ongoing to crack down more suspects, while the arrested men are being remanded in Oukacha prison in Casablanca, according to AFP.

    Hashish is a drug made from the resin of the hemp plant which is dried and used for smoking or chewing. It is banned in many countries including Morocco; although it had been in past cultivated in some parts of the country.

    These recent developments have motivated the Moroccan-Spanish anti-drug committee to convene a mini-summit for both countries’ interior ministers during the weekend in Rabat. The agenda will be bilateral cooperation in investigation and reinforcement of means to fight against drug trafficking in frontier zones, according to the Moroccan Press Agency (MAP).

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