Marrakesh: Royal Gendarmerie Busts Counterfeit Euro Scam, Arresting Moroccan Expat and French National

The Royal Gendarmerie services under the Marrakesh regional command have launched an extensive investigation to uncover the extensions of a criminal network involved in fraud and currency counterfeiting. This follows the arrest of a Moroccan expatriate living in France and a young French woman, suspected of possessing and circulating counterfeit foreign currency within the local tourism market.

Well-Executed Ambush Ends the “Fake Tourists” Scheme

Acting on precise intelligence, operatives from the “Setti Fatma” territorial center of the Royal Gendarmerie—under the supervision of the Tahanaout detachment and in coordination with the Marrakesh regional command—set a tight ambush. The operation successfully cornered the primary suspect while he was driving a rented car, accompanied by his French girlfriend.

An initial search of the vehicle yielded counterfeit 20-euro bills, prompting the immediate detention of the suspects and putting security forces on high alert.

Using Tourist “Appearance” to Deceive Victims

Investigations revealed that the duo adopted a clever deception strategy based on appearances. They leveraged their status as foreign tourists and drove a rental car to deflect suspicion. Their modus operandi involved:

• Targeting tourist establishments and retail shops through direct purchases.
• Paying for hospitality services (food, drinks, and transport) using fake notes to receive the “change” in legitimate local currency.

Hotel Search: The security investigation led detectives to the hotel where the expat was staying in Marrakesh. A thorough search of his room resulted in the seizure of a significant additional cache of counterfeit 20-euro bills, which were carefully hidden.

Custody and Investigating Economic Ramifications

By order of the competent public prosecution, the Moroccan expat has been placed in pre-trial custody to determine whether this was an isolated incident or part of an organized international currency-forging syndicate, given the direct threat such activities pose to the national economy. Meanwhile, questioning continues with the French woman, who staunchly denies any knowledge of her boyfriend’s criminal plots.