Morocco Records Over 500 Cybercrime Cases as Digital Currency Funds Terrorism
Moroccan judicial authorities registered more than 500 cyber offenses, 116 terrorism cases, and 801 money-laundering files in 2024, according to the Public Prosecution Presidency report. The figures highlight the growing role of digital tools in criminal activities and terrorism financing across the North African nation.
Background and Context
The report documents diverse cybercrime activities including online fraud, electronic sexual harassment through messages or recordings, crime incitement via digital platforms, and harmful content distribution facilitating child exploitation. Judicial authorities noted these offenses increasingly involve organized structures exploiting digital infrastructure at scale rather than isolated acts. The growing reliance on online services and electronic transactions has widened exposure for both individuals and institutions, contributing to sustained cyber-related case volumes throughout the year.
Key Figures and Entities
The Public Prosecution Presidency's annual report reveals the scope of digital financial exploitation in Morocco. Terrorism financing methods evolved significantly in 2024, with authorities reporting that terrorist groups increasingly rely on digital currencies to fund their activities. These tools support logistics, maintain operational networks, and facilitate discreet financial transfers that bypass conventional banking oversight and monitoring systems.
Legal and Financial Mechanisms
The report documents concrete cryptocurrency terrorism financing cases. During terrorism case monitoring, authorities identified donation collection operations in digital currency benefiting Daesh. One notable case in late 2024 involved a suspect purchasing USDT cryptocurrency through Binance trading platform after depositing funds via bank card, then transferring amounts to organizational digital wallets. The case involved 50 digital currency units, underscoring terrorist groups' reliance on electronic wallets and cryptocurrency transactions that evade official monitoring mechanisms.
International Implications and Policy Response
Financial crime figures illustrate significant overlap between digital offenses and illicit funding. The 801 money laundering cases frequently connected to predicate crimes including cyber fraud and technology-enabled financial offenses. While the report lacks breakdowns by currency type, it confirms that digital financial instruments are increasingly exploited within broader laundering schemes. This presents mounting challenges for Moroccan authorities as they develop regulatory frameworks and enforcement capabilities to address cryptocurrency misuse, requiring enhanced international cooperation and technical expertise to track cross-border digital financial flows.
Sources
This report draws on the 2024 annual report from Morocco's Public Prosecution Presidency, which details cybercrime statistics and terrorism financing trends in the country.
