MOROCCAN AUTHORITIES THWART MAJOR INTERNATIONAL

C O N F I D E N T I A L RABAT 000090 NOFORN SIPDIS STATE FOR INL, NEA/RA, EUR/WE AND NEA/MAG E.O. 12958: DECL: 01/26/2029 TAGS: SNAR PINS KCOR KCRM SP MO SUBJECT: MOROCCAN AUTHORITIES THWART MAJOR INTERNATIONAL DRUG NETWORK Classified By: CDA Robert P. Jackson for reasons 1.4 (b) and (d). ¶1. (C) Summary: In one of the nation's largest anti-drug operations to date, on January 13 Government of Morocco (GOM) officials arrested 81 individuals, including officers from the Royal Navy, Gendarmerie, and Auxiliary Forces, allegedly involved in an international drug trafficking ring in the north coast city of Nador. This is the first time that GOM authorities have busted a drug ring including so many uniformed officers, especially from the Royal Navy. The drug trafficking network is accused of supplying several tons of hashish to Europe. Other arrests are expected and some senior-ranking uniformed Moroccan officers may be forced to resign once investigations are complete. End summary. ¶2. (C/NF) On January 11, security services arrested local Nador businessman and illegal speed boat operator Mohammed Lghani for transporting Moroccan hashish from the region around Nador to the southern coast of Spain on behalf of drug lords in Spain, Belgium, the Netherlands and Melilla. Lghani implicated others during his interrogation which led to the massive arrests on January 13. The Naval Attache has learned that Lghani used his fleet of speed boats to transport tons of hashish over the past year and accepted cocaine as payment for the transport services, which was then sold in conjunction with the hashish deliveries. Supposedly, Lghani is implicating high level government officials as being on payrolls to turn a blind eye during drug trafficking operations. ¶3. (SBU) Moroccan media report that 81 suspects face charges of alleged involvement in conspiracy, international drug trafficking, corruption, complicity in corruption and aggravated theft. Those arrested to date include 29 members of the Royal Navy, 17 gendarmes (rural police),15 from the auxiliary forces, as well as 20 other civilians for their varying levels of involvement as drug suppliers, boat pilots, and fuel providers. Local media report that the investigation remains open, and the search continues for an additional 25 people suspected of involvement with the disbanded drug ring. The Moroccan court placed all suspects in custody and froze all their personal assets. ¶4. (C) Ministry of Interior Assistant Director of Migration and Border Surveillance Nouredine Moujahid informed PolOff on January 27 that this is the largest drug bust in Morocco since 2006 when GOM authorities arrested Royal Palace Security Chief Abdelaziz Izzou and 12 other Moroccan officials for their participation in a drug trafficking scandal. Authorities seized more than 150 speed boats in ¶2006. During this recent raid, authorities confiscated 47 speed boats and one airplane used in drug trafficking. ¶5. (C) Moujahid said that this latest arrest included individuals from the Royal Navy for the very first time. He added that local press reports claiming Admiral Mohamed Berrada Gouzi was removed from his office as the Inspector General (Commander) of the Moroccan Royal Navy are false. ¶6. (C/NF) When asked why GOM officials decided to bust this drug ring at this time, Moujahid informed PolOff that Moroccan authorities began planning in August 2008 and carefully monitored the movements of those involved using aerial surveillance. Moujahid added in confidence that authorities were concerned that income generated from the illicit drug trade would be a negative influence in the upcoming local elections this summer and they needed to take immediate action. ¶7. (C) Moujahid was not able to provide names and specific details of those arrested due to the ongoing investigation; however, he said that all arrested were low to mid-level officers. Moujahid opined that he would not be surprised if some higher ranking officers would be forced to resign their positions because they allowed these activities to occur under their leadership and that we would know more as soon as the investigation was complete. Moujahid suggested that as many as 100 individuals may be implicated in this latest operation. ***************************************** Visit Embassy Rabat's Classified Website; http://www.state.sgov.gov/p/nea/rabat ***************************************** Jackson