Mohammedia: DGSN arrests French-Algerian national wanted by Interpol

17:35

Moroccan security authorities have arrested a 37-year-old French national of Algerian origin in Mohammedia after identifying him as the subject of an international arrest warrant issued at the request of French judicial authorities.

The arrest was carried out on Thursday, September 17, 2026, by officers from the judicial police in Mohammedia, according to the information provided by local media.

The man is suspected by French authorities of links to criminal networks allegedly involved in the international trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances. The allegations remain subject to the judicial proceedings in France.

Interpol database check led to arrest

The suspect was reportedly identified after police officers checked his personal details against international wanted-person databases.

That verification showed that he was being sought internationally in connection with a French judicial investigation. The available information does not establish the individual's guilt, and the charges remain allegations pending the outcome of the relevant legal proceedings.

The case highlights the role of international police cooperation in locating individuals sought by judicial authorities across borders.

Extradition procedures now under review

Following his detention, the French national was placed under the applicable Moroccan legal procedures. Authorities have also initiated the formal steps associated with a possible extradition to France.

The process is being handled under the supervision of the competent public prosecutor and in accordance with Moroccan judicial procedures governing international criminal cooperation.

Any extradition decision will therefore depend on the applicable legal framework and the procedures followed by the Moroccan authorities.

Interpol Rabat notifies French counterpart

The National Central Bureau of Interpol in Rabat, which operates under Morocco's General Directorate of National Security (DGSN), informed its counterpart in Paris of the man's arrest.

The notification allows French authorities to pursue the necessary legal steps with their Moroccan counterparts concerning the international arrest request and any potential extradition proceedings.

The case remains part of an ongoing judicial process, with the Moroccan authorities handling the suspect's status under national law while coordinating with French authorities through established channels of international judicial cooperation.