14-year prison sentence for individuals involved in trafficking 6 tons of drugs in Al Hoceima

The Criminal Chamber of the Court of First Instance in Targuist, Al Hoceima province, has sentenced two individuals to seven years in prison each for international drug trafficking. The verdict follows the seizure of a truck loaded with over six tons of ‘chira’ (cannabis resin) and quantities of hard drugs, along with three rubber boats equipped with jet engines, intercepted at the entrance to the Issaken region while traveling from Bab Berred towards Fez.

The court ordered the convicts to pay a total civil compensation of 207,490,500 dirhams to the Administration of Customs and Indirect Taxes, with an additional 344,643 dirhams as compensation in lieu of the confiscation of the truck. The judicial body also ordered the destruction of the seized drugs and the confiscation of technical equipment and cash for the benefit of the General Treasury and the State Property Directorate, while returning the truck to its legal owner.

The incident stems from an intervention by elements of the Royal Gendarmerie of Ketama, who successfully thwarted the operation and arrested the two suspects following a thorough search of the truck, which revealed the cargo and smuggling equipment.