Elements of the security forces under the Oujda police prefecture managed to get their hands on more than three tonnes of contraband petrol during operations to fight smuggling carried out at the end of last week by these services, which also seized three light vehicles, a truck, and a bus.

During these operations, some 290 people were also arrested, including 50 who were the subject of search notices, according to a security source.

An international drug trafficking network, which operated with the help of zodiacs, was also dismantled during the same period and several people wanted by the Nador judicial police were arrested, in addition to the seizure of significant sums of money.

The services of the Oujda police prefecture had announced that they had arrested no fewer than 4,560 people suspected of being involved in various offences and crimes during the first two months of 2013.

Among those arrested, 1,210 were wanted at the national level, a statement from the Oujda police prefecture had specified.

These interventions had resulted in the seizure of more than 235 kg of Chira, 24 kg of kif, 77 g of cocaine, 56 g of heroin, 4,160 packets of contraband cigarettes, and 1,150 psychotropic tablets.