The Fez Regional Judicial Police Brigade (BNPJ), in coordination with the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), arrested on Saturday in Meknes 16 individuals aged between 25 to 52, for their alleged involvement in acts of extortion and threats, according to a security source.
The suspects, who were found to have a history of involvement in a wide range of illegal activities, were involved in extorting and threatening citizens, robbing them of sums of money at the city’s bus station, the source added.
According to the initial investigation, the suspects were operating illegal parking lots to extort sums of money from drivers and road haul professionals for no legal reason.
The defendants were taken into custody for investigation under the supervision of the public prosecutor’s office, to identify the details of the case and determine any possible ramifications, added the same source.
The arrest is part of efforts from the General Directorate for National Security (DGSN) and the DGST to root out extortion, theft, drug trafficking, and swindling in Meknes, using the “Ztata” modus operandi, concluded the same source.
Ztata refers to the practice of extorting travelers of money under the guise of providing security or safety, which security forces have been trying to eradicate in the city lately.
