DR ‹ › Security and gendarmerie forces in Beni Mellal, Khouribga, and Khemisset were placed on an unprecedented state of alert last Wednesday after a high-risk chase that stretched nearly 250 kilometers. The pursuit targeted a gang specializing in smuggling various types of drugs. Members of the network exchanged gunfire with security and gendarmerie officers before the Tiddas gendarmerie in the Khemisset region managed to arrest the gang leader, one of the most wanted criminals in Ouezzane, according to Assabah. The operation began when Morocco's domestic intelligence agency provided the anti-gang unit in Beni Mellal with precise intelligence that enabled authorities to track the smugglers' movements. The gang repeatedly changed their route to avoid capture, traveling through Fquih Ben Salah, Khouribga, and Oued Zem before heading toward the Moulay Bouazza road in Khénifra province. During the chase, the ringleader fired a hunting rifle at a police patrol, causing two vehicles to overturn and injuring several officers, including one who was seriously wounded. With fixed and mobile checkpoints tightening the perimeter, the Tiddas gendarmerie set a carefully planned trap that led to the arrest of the gang leader after he attempted to fire at the officers. One accomplice managed to flee. Authorities seized large quantities of drugs, and the suspect was referred for investigation on serious charges, including attempted murder of public officials, trafficking hard drugs, and illegal possession of a firearm. Preliminary findings also suggest the detainee may be linked to two previous shootings targeting gendarmerie patrols in Khemisset and Oued Zem over the past two years. Forensic experts are examining whether the confiscated weapon matches the cartridges used in those earlier attacks.
