Massive customs fraud network uncovered involving shell companies
Moroccan customs authorities have uncovered a vast network of shell companies accused of orchestrating large-scale customs fraud through suspicious import operations. Regional customs control teams in Casablanca, Tangier and Agadir, acting on instructions from the central administration, launched an in-depth audit targeting companies believed to have benefited from substantial tax and customs exemptions before disappearing from official oversight.
According to well-informed sources, the initial investigation focused on 23 suspicious companies. Inspectors found evidence that certain importers had exploited the temporary admission regime, which allows goods to enter the country without paying duties, then diverted these products to the domestic market through shell companies registered under employees’ names.
The audit also revealed major discrepancies between declared import volumes and export activity. Some companies had no export records at all, confirming the illegal resale of products intended solely for temporary use.
Investigators uncovered tactics used to bypass reinforced controls, including the creation of multiple companies that were later deliberately liquidated after each operation. The actual operators of these businesses reportedly registered companies under third parties’ names to avoid legal accountability.
The inquiry has now expanded to other regions of the country, following intelligence indicating that similar companies were being set up in several cities to escape detection.
Authorities note that this operation comes after two years of intensified regional inspections, which led to the seizure of temporarily imported goods worth 8.7 billion dirhams and the recovery of 230 million dirhams in additional customs revenue.
Ongoing investigations aim to identify the true beneficiaries behind the fraudulent network, analyzing connections between implicated entities and examining potential falsification of technical data related to imported goods. Inspectors are expected to focus particularly on inconsistencies in product specifications from the same foreign suppliers, especially in imports from China.
The new digital customs system, powered by artificial intelligence, has played a crucial role in detecting irregularities. Linked to international customs databases and supported by professional industry associations, the system enables cross-checking of suspicious invoices and verification of product values.
With increased digitalization and integrated data-sharing mechanisms, Morocco’s Customs Administration now possesses a more robust database that supports targeted inspections and the detection of irregular documentation across the supply chain.
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