Three French Tourists Arrested for Using Counterfeit Cash in Morocco

Tuesday 19 December 2023 - 09:00

MARRAKECH - A trio of French tourists found themselves in trouble for attempting to settle their hotel bills in Morocco's historic imperial city using counterfeit banknotes.

The scam reached its climax on Monday morning when Moroccan authorities arrested three French nationals, aged 29 to 30, as part of a detailed sting operation. The suspects had allegedly tried to pay their extravagant hotel tabs with counterfeit currency.

According to a senior security official, who wished to remain anonymous, credible reports had been received about foreigners using fake euros in the well-known Djemaa el-Fna market area. Acting swiftly, Moroccan agents identified and apprehended the three French tourists in possession of the counterfeit banknotes.

A subsequent search revealed 25 bogus euro banknotes with a face value of several thousand dirhams. The group now faces fraud charges, and a local judge has ordered them into custody pending a more extensive investigation into the broader criminal enterprise.

This thwarted caper serves as a cautionary tale for visitors seeking to cut corners through deceptive means. For these unfortunate French tourists, their get-rich-quick scheme unraveled faster than a snake charmer's pungi. The joke is now on them as they find themselves behind bars in a Moroccan prison.