According to a communiqué from the Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale (DGSN). Moroccan authorities have dismantled a transnational human smuggling network.
Authorities arrested during the operation 70 individuals and seized 5 cars, communication gadgets, money and documents, said the document. Baptized "Octopus," the operation kicked off on January 25 following the arrest of 38 Indian illegal immigrants in the enclave of Mellila.
"Among the arrested individuals, 29 are members of the criminal organization including 19 Moroccans, five Indians and five Pakistanis," pointed out the communiqué. "A policeman at Casablanca airport is also involved.
According to another source, the other 41 individuals that were arrested are all Indian would-be immigrants. The network is run by individuals in India and Pakistan with correspondents in Africa, Europe and Canada.
The scheme appears to have involved would-be immigrants paying from USD 10,000 to USD 12,000 each to reach the Europe. They were being flown to Togo, Burkina Faso, Senegal or Mali, then brought to the north of Mali before being driven to Morocco via Algeria.
"The network was so organized that it recruited accomplices, not only among local populations but also among the security services in transit African countries, on the borders between Morocco and Algeria and even in Spain where the investigations revealed the involvement of some elements of the Guardia Civil," stated the communiqué from the DGSN.
Some executives in foreign diplomatic representations in Gulf countries were also bribed and the network transfered cash from India and Pakistan to Dubai or through accomplices that sent money via "Western union" to Morocco and other transit countries. The money was mainly used to provide the vital needs of the would-be immigrants and to pay their housing and transport fees.
Tags: Morocco, Fes, Maghreb, news
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