Newspaper articles 27, Contraband Modern in the Fes Medina

On the Issue of Smuggling

Albayane Daily, No.1499, November 4, 1995

Smuggling is an illegal activity because its aim is to evade paying taxes to the country, which reduces revenues and abysmally affects the strategy of development. Hence, smuggling is a destructive weapon for the economies of the countries that have combated it relying on means and procedures that differ from one country to another.

Morocco is among the countries that have witnessed this activity that has dangerously grown and become so serious that it has turned into a phantom that threatens the national economy and destroys it. Many factors have contributed to the growth of this activity the most important of which are:

• The spread of acts of administrative corruption such as the spread of bribery, nepotism and the abuse of power.
• The aggravation and spread of the crisis of unemployment whereby it has affected holders of high degrees.
• The spread of drought and aspects of misery and poverty.
• The closure of the doors of western countries of Europe to Moroccans and others. They can only be admitted entry by means of a visa.

It goes without saying that smuggling is an age-old practice but it was revived in Morocco during the eighteenth century as a result of the policy Almakhzen enacted which was called “isolationism and introversion” or “caution”. Morocco abided by this policy during the rule of Moulay Suleiman (1792-1822). One of the results of this policy is that the scope of smuggling was enlarged in the region of the Rif, Dukkala and Suss.

Today, its range has broadened and become under the supervision of a network of smugglers. Besides, it is varied in style, method and materials. The latter consist of different and various foodstuff and numerous electronic apparatuses such as T.V sets, videos, satellite dishes, microwaves, washing-machines, etc. This is in addition to household utensils. These smuggled goods have so drowned Moroccan markets that there have appeared markets specialised in selling these products as in Tetuan, Nadoure and Oujda.
It can be said that despite the inconveniences of this activity it plays an important part in enhancing the social and living conditions of many families. The demand for smuggled goods is due to two factors:

• The high quality of products excepting foodstuff (such as sardine cans).
•  Low prices.

The urgent question that we have to ask is why has the Moroccan administration remained reticent for years up till now? Is it because of the recommendations of the IMF and the GATT treaty out of which is derived the international organisation of free trade? 

We all hope that that such a step is not taken only because of external recommendations and pressures. We hope that combating contraband has come out of a political will looking forward to founding a solid national economy through eradicating this chronic disease that has eaten up our national economy. The best ways to achieve this are as follows:

• A radical reform of the administration and the eradication of all aspects of corruption.
• The creation of job opportunities to absorb the huge number of unemployed people.
• The establishment of a national immunity that caters for the needs of Moroccans.
• The enhancement of the living condition of the inhabitants via increasing the wages and reducing customs taxes on the products imported so as to develop home commerce and reduce prices of products to improve the purchasing power.
• Tightening surveillance to annihilate contraband and dealing earnestly with grand smugglers.

These procedures can put an end to smuggling and its inconveniences and simultaneously rationalise the Moroccan economy and develop it in accordance with the needs of the country and the expectations of the Moroccan people.

Translated by Abdelmjid Kettioui