The entrance to a ‘narco tunnel’ used to smuggle drugs between Morocco and Spain was located in a military unit’s home, it has emerged.
The underground network was first discovered by the Guardia Civil two months ago, in the Spanish territory of Ceuta, north Africa.
Footage shared by the force showed how its access was hidden in the floor of a warehouse in the Tarajal industrial estate.
An officer was filmed climbing into the 12-metre hole via a ladder, before reaching the 50-metre tunnel.
But while much became known about the operation on Spanish territory, things were all quiet on the Moroccan front – until now.
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According to local news website Alyaoum24.com, Moroccan authorities found the entrance to the tunnel inside a house in a restricted military zone.
The house belongs to a military unit and the case has sparked a scandal ‘with political and judicial ramifications.’
The report says several suspects have been identified and accused of building the tunnel, with arrests expected in the coming days.
The National Brigade of the Moroccan Judicial Police has taken over the investigation, which expects to see the sacking of high-ranking officials.
The tunnel operated for at least two years, during which time various gangs are suspected of using it to move large quantities of hashish from Morocco to Ceuta, and from there to the Iberian Peninsula by sea via the Port of Algeciras.
The Ceuta warehouse where the tunnel was found was abandoned since early 2023.
Its discovery followed months of investigation by Spanish authorities in what has been dubbed Operation Hades.
Police became suspicious after intercepting several trucks loaded with hashish in Algeciras, Sevilla, and Malaga – all coming from Ceuta.
There have so far been 14 arrests, including two Guardia Civil officers from the Ceuta Command, a city councillor (Mohamed Duas, of the Dignity and Citizenship Movement (MDyC) party), and several transporters.
