Criminal Gang Dismantled in Fez

The Judicial Police of Fez, in collaboration with the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance, arrested six individuals on Monday, aged between 34 and 68, including two women and a man with a criminal record for kidnapping and illegal detention. They are suspected of belonging to a criminal gang involved in kidnapping, unlawful detention with ransom demands, and drug possession and trafficking.

Investigations revealed that the suspects lured a victim, kidnapped, and held them hostage while demanding a ransom. The victim’s family paid the amount before alerting the authorities. A thorough investigation quickly led to the full identification of the suspects.

Simultaneous security operations in Meknes, El Hajeb, Ain Jri, and Boufekrane led to the arrest of the suspects. Police searches resulted in the seizure of six vehicles used in the crimes, a significant portion of the ransom money, the victim’s personal documents, and photos documenting their captivity.

Additionally, a search of a house used by one of the suspects led to the discovery of a shipment of three tons of cannabis resin. The detainees remain in police custody under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor’s office as investigations continue to uncover the full circumstances and motivations behind these criminal activities.