Crackdown on Illegal Plastic Bag Production in Safi
In a significant operation, the Royal Gendarmerie in the Tlet Bouguedra area has successfully dismantled an illicit factory responsible for producing prohibited plastic bags in the Safi province, part of the Marrakech-Safi region. This operation was reported by the daily newspaper Assabah on August 26, 2026, highlighting the growing concern over the illegal production of plastic goods in the region.
The authorities acted on information from relevant sources leading them to the clandestine facility located in the Douar Chlihat area. During the raid, gendarmes confiscated a variety of equipment used for manufacturing plastic bags, along with significant quantities of raw materials and finished products. This illegal operation was reportedly flooding local markets, particularly the weekly souks in the Marrakech-Safi area, posing a challenge to local regulations aimed at banning the production, importation, and distribution of plastic bags.
Plastic bags have been outlawed in Morocco due to their detrimental environmental impact, yet the demand for these bags remains high in informal markets, primarily due to their low production costs and high profitability. The successful tracing of this illegal operation by security services stemmed from monitoring the distribution of these bags in local markets.
Following the dismantling of the factory, an investigation has been initiated by the Royal Gendarmerie, under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor in Safi, to delve deeper into this lucrative black market operation. The findings of this investigation could lead to further actions against those involved in the illegal trade of plastic goods.
As reported by fr.le360.ma.
