5 Moroccan police arrested in mafia case

An investigation into mafia activities in the northeastern Moroccan city of Nador has implicated six members of the country’s security forces, all accused of smuggling weapons and drugs across the Mediterranean Sea. Security sources told Arabstoday six members of the Maritime Gendermerie, Royal Navy and Auxiliary Forces had been taken into custody, following an anonymous tip-off. A note sent to security authorities told of nighttime smuggling operations between Nador and the Spanish coastline to the north. Suspects are accused of armed attacks, drug trafficking and aggravated robbery. Investigations are being led by Moroccan police and its Domestic Intelligency Agency (DST). Authorities have already imprisoned 11 other suspects in the rapidly expanding mafia investigation. Morocco’s Ministry of Interior has meanwhile received reports of a criminal syndicate ferrying cannabis resin (known locally as “chira”) and cocaine between Spain and Morocco.