9 Hrs
Source:
النهار أونلاين
Morocco-linked crime groups diversify drug routes
Criminal and financial investigations in Belgium and Italy reveal a dangerous development in the methods employed by criminal networks linked to Morocco. These networks have not limited themselves to cannabis smuggling; they have expanded into heroin trafficking, developing sophisticated concealment techniques, money transfer methods, and broadening their operations to include more dangerous drugs. In Belgium, authorities shut down a furniture store and detained its 61-year-old owner after discovering that the operation was used to smuggle cannabis hidden within furniture pieces, passing them off as legitimate trades. The proceeds from these activities are believed to have been diverted into the underground economy. Financial investigations uncovered that the store had not filed tax declarations since 2019, despite continuing its activities, leading to the arrest of the suspect. Meanwhile, in Italy, a 22-year-old Moroccan was detained after police found him in possession of a quantity of cocaine. Investigations into his phone and packaging methods—matching those used in previous operations—indicate the existence of a broader network and the extension of drug smuggling activities. Morocco remains a major source of cannabis, but these networks are now increasingly trafficking other drugs. They are also developing ways to smuggle money and reinvest it, reflecting a shift in the drug trade toward an integrated criminal system. This encompasses not just drug trafficking but also the management of extensive financial resources, with a focus on funding sources and commercial fronts.
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