On the International Day for the Prevention and Combating of All Forms of Transnational Organized Crime, which falls on November 15 of each year, Morocco stands out, according to those interested, as a regional and international actor that has accumulated security and intelligence experience that has placed it at the forefront of the countries that are leading the battle to confront transnational threats in their various forms, through an integrated and multidimensional approach that has enabled it to transform its borders into solid lines of defense against criminal flows at all levels, from terrorism and its financing to human trafficking. And drugs, as well as cybercrime networks that threaten the stability of countries and societies.
This effective Moroccan security performance with international certificates has turned into a lever for international cooperation through deep and reliable intelligence partnerships with various security institutions in Africa and Europe, and with leading international organizations such as Interpol, whose city of Marrakesh is preparing to host the ninety-third session of its General Assembly late this month. This cooperation has contributed to dismantling transcontinental criminal networks and protecting the Mediterranean and the African coast from growing threats, thus consolidating Rabat’s position as a proactive force in the fight against organized crime and an effective contributor to building the collective security system.
Leadership and partnership
Al-Buraq Shadi Abdel Salam, an international expert in crisis management, conflict analysis and risk management, said that “Morocco plays a pivotal, active and central role in confronting cross-border organized crime at the regional and international levels, thus confirming its position as a reliable security partner,” adding that “this role is not limited to securing national borders only, but extends to include effective contributions to combating terrorism and extremist groups, as Morocco is a regional leader with a comprehensive, multi-dimensional strategy that integrates security, social and religious aspects.”
Al-Buraq added, in a statement to Hespress, “This commitment is embodied in the great efforts made to combat drug trafficking by securing borders and intensifying coastal and land surveillance, and the vital role in participating, from sovereign standpoints, in securing the common Mediterranean space to prevent illegal migration flows and human trafficking and dismantle their networks. This operational framework is based on a solid legal base represented by adherence to international standards and the ratification of international agreements, most notably the Palermo Convention to Combat Transnational Organized Crime.”
The spokesman stressed that “this exceptional and effective security performance is an embodiment of the visionary royal vision that places national and regional security at the heart of priorities. The General Directorate of National Security and the General Directorate of National Territorial Surveillance had a strategic and decisive role in implementing and translating this vision into a comprehensive and multi-dimensional security approach on the ground.”
He explained that “international cooperation is considered the cornerstone of the security strategy of the General Directorate of National Security, the General Directorate of National Territorial Surveillance, the Central Office for Judicial Investigations, and the Royal Gendarmerie, as Morocco is distinguished by being a reliable intelligence partner and an effective contributor to global efforts through deep cooperation with organizations such as Interpol, and strong and ongoing Moroccan security partnerships with European Union countries, especially Spain, France, Belgium, Italy, Britain, and Germany.”
Al-Buraq concluded that “security diplomacy is also a complementary and major element in the Moroccan security approach, as Moroccan security competence and accumulated intelligence experience have been transformed into an effective tool in the Kingdom’s foreign policy, as Morocco exports its security model in combating terrorism, managing immigration files, and providing training and technical support to brotherly and friendly countries, especially in Africa and the Sahel region,” stressing that “this security approach extends to addressing the root causes of crime and terrorism and combating illicit financing, within the framework of “From integration with economic and social development efforts in border areas and vulnerable areas, to cut off criminal networks that exploit poverty and fragility for recruitment and financing.”
Engagement and approach
Saeed Barknan, a political analyst, said in a statement to the online newspaper Hespress, “Morocco is involved in the world’s movement to eliminate organized crime activity for special considerations, including firstly the Kingdom’s involvement in the international bloc to fight terrorism linked to Islamic groups and organizations whose funding is linked to the proceeds of arms trafficking as well as to natural and manufactured drugs.”
The same political analyst added, “There is also a consideration related to the geographical location of Morocco, which has made it a starting location for the natural drug trade and a transit location for the crime of human trafficking and some hard drugs coming from Africa and Latin America towards the rest of the world, especially Europe, as well as a transit location to the Sahel and sub-Saharan regions, in which armed and terrorist groups are active, and arms trade, human trafficking, and money laundering are active.”
He continued, “This Moroccan involvement is also justified by the uncontrolled events in the regional region of North Africa and the Sahel and Sub-Saharan countries, as they are a realistic context for the intersection of regional and international conflicts and geo-political and geo-economic transformations of the countries competing at the top of the economic pyramid in the world, which places Morocco facing an environment that generates and incubates terrorism and separatist groups first, and then for all types of transnational crime linked to the financing of these terrorist groups.”
Berknan stressed, “Morocco’s involvement since the beginning of the third millennium in combating international terrorism, its serious contribution to drying up the sources of funding for terrorist groups, and its effective role in the Peace and Security Council of the African Union, which it has chaired three times since returning to work from within the Union. To become involved in organized crime networks.”
Berknan explained that “Morocco has developed operations to block cross-border crime in its bilateral or bloc security agreements by combining the security approach with the development approach, especially since crime goes beyond traditional definitions and is developing in the world into cybercrime, for example, and is also linked to the digital and technological developments that Rabat is incorporating into its strategy to combat all forms of organized crime.”
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