Residents and visitors of the Al Oulayine and Bouzeghlal areas, in the mountainous region surrounding Tetouan in northern Morocco, say they have noticed a marked improvement in security over the past two weeks. The shift follows a string of operations carried out by the Royal Gendarmerie across this rugged stretch of countryside, according to accounts gathered from local families and hiking enthusiasts who regularly visit the area.
Patrols have grown noticeably more frequent, residents say, with daily sweep operations and targeted raids on locations flagged as suspicious. The campaign is being run by the Royal Gendarmerie’s judicial unit based in Fnideq, under the direction of the local company commander. Officers say the goal is straightforward: identify individuals linked to criminal activity, track down wanted suspects, dismantle any networks operating in the area, and cut off drug-trafficking routes before they can take hold.
The effort has already yielded a significant result. One person was arrested while in possession of a large quantity of cocaine and has since been handed over to the public prosecutor’s office. Investigators are now working to determine whether others were involved in the same trafficking operation, and whether it connects to a wider network beyond the immediate area.
The terrain itself remains a complicating factor. Several suspects and wanted individuals are believed to be exploiting the area’s steep slopes and difficult access roads to slip away toward neighboring mountain zones, making pursuit and search operations considerably harder for gendarmerie units on the ground.
For the families and mountain-sport enthusiasts who flock to Al Oulayine and Bouzeghlal, especially on weekends when foot traffic rises sharply, the stepped-up presence of security forces has brought a welcome sense of relief. Many hope the heightened vigilance will be sustained rather than temporary, given how quickly the area fills with visitors drawn to its natural scenery.
Attention now turns to how the ongoing judicial investigation unfolds, and whether it uncovers the true scale of the trafficking operation authorities say they have begun to dismantle in this corner of Tetouan province. Local authorities are urging continued vigilance across the region’s mountain zones, even as patrols work to keep its popular natural spaces safe for the crowds who keep coming back.
