TANGER MED, Morocco — Law enforcement and customs officials in Morocco have intercepted more than a metric ton of cocaine across two separate operations targeting maritime cargo containers shipped from South America.
Major Seizure en Route to Belgium
The largest interception took place on October 5 at the Mediterranean port of Tanger Med. During a targeted inspection, security forces uncovered approximately 991 kilograms of suspected cocaine concealed inside multiple bags within a shipping container.
Shipping records indicate that the cargo originated from the port of Rio Grande in southern Brazil and was scheduled to transit through Morocco before reaching its final destination in the Port of Antwerp, Belgium.
Coordinated Law Enforcement Effort
The high-profile seizure resulted from a joint interdiction operation involving Moroccan Customs, the Royal Gendarmerie, and judicial investigative police. Just days earlier, authorities discovered an additional 48.3 kilograms of cocaine inside another container originating from the same Brazilian port.
Key aspects of the operations include:
- Total illicit narcotics seized: Nearly 1,040 kilograms of cocaine
- Smuggling route: Rio Grande (Brazil) to Antwerp (Belgium) via Tanger Med (Morocco)
- Method of concealment: Concealed in transit shipping containers
Judicial authorities have initiated a comprehensive investigation to dismantle the international drug trafficking network responsible for coordinating the transatlantic shipments.