Marrakech: The Marrakech Prefectural Judicial Police, in collaboration with the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), arrested two French nationals on Sunday, both subjects of international arrest warrants issued by the French authorities and red notices from the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL).

According to Agence Marocaine De Presse, searches and inquiries pinpointed the whereabouts of the French nationals, aged 28 and 38. A reinforced security operation was then launched, resulting in their arrest in Marrakech, as stated by a communiqu© from the General Directorate of National Security (DGSN).

The arrest of the two suspects took place as part of a coordinated operation between Moroccan and French security authorities, the same source added.

Preliminary investigation findings reveal that the two suspects were involved in a premeditated murder linked to a criminal network that targeted French prison staff on May 14, 2024, facilitating the escape of French-Algerian inmate Mohamed Amra, who was arrested last weekend in Romania, the communiqu© stated.

The two suspects are also suspected of committing other criminal offenses as part of an organized crime gang, including illegal possession of firearms, armed robberies, fraud, attempted murder, as well as acts of vandalism and destruction of public and private property, it continued.

The suspects were placed in police custody under a judicial investigation ordered by the competent public prosecutor. French security authorities have been notified of the arrests to begin extradition procedures as part of international cooperation.

This high-profile security operation underscores the commitment of the DGSN and DGST to strengthening international security cooperation and highlights the strong bilateral collaboration between Moroccan and French security services on shared security concerns, the communiqu© concluded.