On the evening of Monday, March 16, officials from the Marrakech security department successfully apprehended three individuals, aged between 22 and 33, during two separate security operations. These arrests were made on suspicion of their involvement in the trafficking of smuggled pharmaceutical products that pose a significant risk to public health.
According to security sources, the national police's cyber vigilance unit had detected advertisements on social media platforms offering smuggled pharmaceutical items purportedly for use in facilitating abortion procedures. This lead prompted a series of technical investigations and field inquiries that ultimately identified the suspects.
The first operation resulted in the arrest of a private security guard inside a public hospital, caught red-handed with expired medical tablets that had been out of date since 2018, which he claimed were to be used for abortion facilitation. A subsequent search of his residence yielded 166 units of the aforementioned tablets, along with 1,968 units of various other pharmaceutical products.
The second operation led to the arrest of two additional suspects in Marrakech, who were caught in the act of distributing 21 medical tablets they falsely claimed would aid in abortion procedures. A search of their premises uncovered two mobile phones believed to be utilized in facilitating this illegal activity, as well as a sum of money suspected to be the proceeds from their criminal actions.
All suspects have been placed under police custody pending a judicial investigation overseen by the relevant public prosecutor's office, aimed at uncovering all circumstances and details related to this case. Investigations are ongoing to apprehend all potential accomplices involved in these criminal activities.
This operation is part of broader efforts by the General Directorate of National Security, in coordination with the International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol), to combat the illicit trade of pharmaceutical products and smuggled medicines.
As reported by anbaetv.ma.
