Explosive Investigation in Zaïo: Customs Will Get Their Hands on Millions in Gold and Currency

BERKACH ABDELAZIZ

Customs teams from the town of Zaïo carried out a vast field operation, targeting a boutique selling jewelry as well as an adjoining house belonging to the same owner, after obtaining precise information indicating the presence of precious metals and sums of money in foreign currencies suspected of being exchanged outside legal frameworks.

This intervention took place within the framework of rigorous coordination with local authorities. The teams managed to seize significant quantities of gold and silver, in addition to considerable sums in several currencies, which were inventoried and officially recorded in accordance with the procedures in force.

During the search, the customs teams used trained police dogs, which made it possible to discover secret caches inside the house containing additional amounts carefully concealed, thus reinforcing the suspicions of the owner’s involvement in transactions illegal financial assets.

The seizures include in particular:

• 1,488,237.00 euros * 2,448,080.00 dirhams * Approximately 2 kg of jewelry declared as gold * 79.5 kg of white metal declared as silver Other sums in foreign currencies were also seized, including: • 11,743 US dollars * 1 005 pounds sterling * 220 Swiss francs * 100 Canadian dollars * 40 Saudi rials According to sources, the search began around noon.

With the arrival of Maghreb prayer time, customs teams had to call on police dogs to identify places where money was hidden inside the house.

This operation made it possible to discover additional amounts, duly recorded in the presence of the various services concerned.

The prosecution ordered the opening of an in-depth investigation to determine the origin of the funds and precious metals, and identify possible links with networks operating in the illegal exchange of currencies or trafficking in precious metals.

This operation is part of a continuous control dynamic carried out by customs services in all regions of the Kingdom.