Moroccan authorities are intensifying efforts to identify and apprehend individuals involved in a failed attempt to smuggle 3.6 tons of hashish concealed in a shipping container bound for Europe. The container, loaded with fishmeal, was intercepted at the Port of Casablanca.
The manager of a fish canning factory owned by a publicly traded company on the Casablanca Stock Exchange has been questioned as part of the investigation, sources said. The drugs were hidden within a shipment of fishmeal destined for Belgium.
The company, managed by a young entrepreneur, provided logistical documents for the truck carrying the container. Investigators determined that a customs officer had sealed the shipment at the factory before it headed to the port. Authorities are now scrutinizing the truck driver’s role and potential involvement of other parties linked to the factory.
Police are analyzing GPS data from the truck to trace its route. Meanwhile, customs and national security officers are reviewing prior export records between the company and a Belgian firm, with assistance from Europol to exchange relevant security data.
The operation, a collaboration between law enforcement and customs officials, revealed that the drugs were meticulously wrapped and hidden inside fishmeal bags. Police dogs were instrumental in pinpointing the drugs’ exact locations.
Investigators are questioning the customs broker responsible for overseeing the export and the customs officer who sealed the shipment. Authorities are also examining factory workers involved in loading and unloading shipments.
Under the supervision of prosecutors, police have requested hard drives from surveillance cameras at the factory in Safi to analyze footage for evidence.
While news of the company’s connection to the smuggling attempt quickly spread in financial circles, it had minimal impact on its stock performance, as the company has a limited number of publicly traded shares.
Moroccan authorities continue to investigate the origins of the drugs and their connections both domestically and in Europe.
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