DR ‹ › Morocco's Central Bureau of Judicial Investigations (BCIJ), under the Directorate General for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), dismantled a six-member terrorist cell on Sunday and Monday (April 5–6), suspected of carrying out criminal acts driven by extremist ideology, including theft, burglary, and money laundering under what is known as the principle of «justifying looting». The suspects were arrested in separate operations in Kenitra, Casablanca, the Dar El Gueddari area (Sidi Kacem province), and Sidi Taïbi, the BCIJ said in a statement. Search operations conducted as part of the investigation led to the seizure of extremist books and manuscripts, bladed weapons of various sizes, including sharp and blunt objects, as well as sums of money in Moroccan dirhams believed to be proceeds of criminal activity. Authorities also confiscated a balaclava, gloves, and three vehicles, including two vans used for transporting goods, as well as a motorcycle suspected of facilitating the crimes. Investigations, supported by surveillance operations, revealed that the suspects, who had adopted extremist ideology, were recently involved in theft and burglary as part of a criminal network aimed at generating illicit income. Their modus operandi consisted of targeting livestock farms in rural areas around Kenitra and Sidi Slimane, carrying out robberies before reselling the stolen goods in local markets in Joumaa Shim (Safi province) and Zemamra (Sidi Bennour province). Ongoing investigations aim to uncover the full scope of the suspects' criminal activities, establish links between these acts and their extremist affiliations, and identify and arrest any accomplices. The suspects have been placed in custody as part of the judicial investigation conducted by the BCIJ under the supervision of the public prosecutor in charge of terrorism and extremism cases, the statement concluded.
