French-Moroccan National Arrested in Ourika Over Counterfeit Euro Banknotes

Officers of the Royal Gendarmerie attached to the territorial brigade of Ourika in Al Haouz Province have arrested a French national of Moroccan origin on suspicion of involvement in a case related to the possession and circulation of counterfeit euro banknotes.

The operation was launched following a complaint filed by the owner of a restaurant in the tourist area of Ourika, who reported that a customer had paid for a meal using a banknote suspected of being counterfeit while accompanied by a French woman.

Upon receiving the complaint, Royal Gendarmerie officers immediately initiated an investigation and carried out extensive field inquiries in coordination with the National Police services in Marrakech. These efforts led to the identification of the suspect and the determination of his place of residence in a hotel in the city.

During a search conducted in the hotel room occupied by the suspect, investigators discovered a significant quantity of counterfeit currency, consisting of approximately 70 banknotes of 20 euros each. The forged notes were seized as part of the ongoing investigation.

The suspect was placed in police custody under the instructions of the competent public prosecutor’s office, pending the continuation of investigations aimed at uncovering all the circumstances surrounding the case and determining whether other individuals may have been involved in the criminal activity