In a significant operation on April 24, 2026, at 10:00 PM, the Royal Gendarmerie in the Ibn Ahmed district, under the regional command of Settat, apprehended a driver of a pickup truck engaged in the illegal trafficking of sheep meat sourced from clandestine slaughterhouses. This illicit meat was intended for catering services across various cities and regions.
The newspaper "As-Sabah" reported in its weekend edition that preliminary investigation findings revealed the severity of the crime, highlighting the alarming connections between caterers at weddings and special events and the activities of gangs involved in illegal slaughtering. The origins and quality of the meat in question remain unknown, raising concerns that the sheep may have been sick or deceased, rendering them unsafe for consumption.
Furthermore, the article detailed that the arrested individual, who had taken up the practice of smuggling and distributing meat from illegal sources, attempted to deceive law enforcement agencies, including the police and gendarmerie. He utilized a pickup truck designed for goods transport to evade suspicion and scrutiny, disregarding strict regulations concerning the transportation of red meat. These regulations necessitate sanitary conditions during transportation, proper storage standards, and adherence to legal temperature requirements when delivering products to markets, all aimed at safeguarding public health and preventing foodborne illnesses.
The swift intervention by the Royal Gendarmerie thwarted the plans of a criminal network distributing inedible meat, which was being marketed by greedy caterers seeking illicit profits. These caterers often sell the meat at low prices and mask its spoilage using spices to facilitate its presentation to unsuspecting customers and event attendees, who remain oblivious to its quality.
The exposure of the suspects' activities was credited to the vigilance of the gendarmerie, who managed to stop a pickup truck attempting to bypass a judicial checkpoint in Ibn Ahmed. While the driver believed he was safe from suspicion, he was confronted by the gendarmes, who mandated him to halt and present his documents for a thorough inspection of the vehicle.
The search yielded a significant quantity of red meat (sheep carcasses) from illegal slaughterhouses, which the driver could not justify in terms of its source. Consequently, he was detained for further investigation.
The gendarmerie has initiated a judicial inquiry under the supervision of the public prosecutor's office to uncover the details surrounding the case and to identify the primary supplier of the pickup driver, as well as the parties involved in the trafficking network. This investigation aims to apprehend the leader and members of the illegal slaughtering ring and all accomplices, including the caterers jeopardizing public health for illicit gains.
Following directives from the public prosecutor, the prohibited goods have been confiscated with the intention of destruction, and the vehicle used for their distribution has been impounded. The detainee has been placed under provisional detention pending a thorough investigation, with plans to present him to the public prosecutor at the Ibn Ahmed court for appropriate legal action.
As reported by ar.le360.ma.
