ALDAR/ Imane Alaoui
Official data released by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Virginia has revealed the success of two complex international security operations targeting transnational criminal networks involved in trafficking heavy weapons, drug smuggling, money laundering, and terrorism financing. These operations benefited from the active contribution of Morocco’s security hub, represented by the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN) and the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), alongside international partners, notably the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA).
According to the information, the first operation led to the dismantling of an international criminal network specializing in the illicit trafficking of military-grade weapons for the benefit of drug cartels, particularly Mexico’s “Jalisco New Generation Cartel,” considered one of the most dangerous criminal organizations in the world. The operation resulted in the arrest of a Kenyan national in Morocco, who was extradited to the United States on March 11, 2026, as well as the arrest of a Bulgarian arms dealer in Spain and a Tanzanian accomplice in Ghana, while a Ugandan suspect remains at large. Investigations revealed that the network had been active since September 2022, supplying cartels with sophisticated weapons including machine guns, rocket launchers, grenades, night vision equipment, sniper rifles, and anti-aircraft systems. The group used forged documents known as “end-user certificates” to conceal the true destination of the shipments. The network also managed to export a test shipment of 50 AK-47 assault rifles from Bulgaria, while the total value of potential deals was estimated at around €53.7 million. Plans were also uncovered to supply more advanced equipment, including surface-to-air missiles, drones, and air defense systems.
In a related development, the second operation dismantled a criminal network led by a Lebanese national involved in financial transfers linked to international drug trafficking. Conducted in August 2024 as part of a “controlled delivery” operation in coordination with the DEA, this case culminated on March 23, 2026, with the conviction of Lebanese-Syrian national Antoine Qassis by a U.S. court on charges of narco-terrorism conspiracy and providing material support to a foreign terrorist organization, following a five-day trial. Investigations showed that Qassis oversaw cocaine and arms trafficking networks operating from Syria and Lebanon, leveraging his connections within the former Syrian regime, including ties to senior military officials. He also entered into agreements with Colombia’s National Liberation Army (ELN), designated as a terrorist organization, to exchange weapons for hundreds of kilograms of cocaine. Evidence indicated that he planned to import a maritime shipment of 500 kilograms of cocaine through the port of Latakia for distribution in the Middle East, while his associates handled money laundering operations. Nearly $100 million was transferred in less than 18 months to criminal networks, including the Sinaloa Cartel and the Hamas movement.
U.S. authorities emphasized that the success of these operations reflects a high level of security coordination among several countries, including Morocco, Spain, Ghana, Kenya, Colombia, and Mexico. They highlighted the central role played by Moroccan security services, both in carrying out arrests on national territory and in intelligence sharing and contributing to international extradition procedures, reinforcing the Kingdom’s position as a reliable partner in combating organized crime and terrorism globally.
Defendants in these cases face severe penalties, including potential life imprisonment, with mandatory minimum sentences ranging from 10 to 20 years depending on the charges, as part of the broader U.S. initiative “Take Back America,” aimed at dismantling transnational criminal networks and combating cartels and terrorist organizations worldwide.
