Morocco police chief in Sweden to boost security cooperation

STOCKHOLM – Morocco’s Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Abdellatif Hammouchi, was on a working visit to Sweden on Monday and Tuesday.

Hammouchi was accompanied by a large security delegation comprising officials and representatives from both the Directorate General of National Security (DGSN) and the Directorate General of Territorial Surveillance (DGST).

This visit comes in the context of the Swedish security services' desire to strengthen cooperation and coordination with their Moroccan counterparts, as well as their shared goal of enhancing their security partnership to encompass various areas of operational cooperation, sharing of expertise, and mutual technical assistance in the security field.

Hammouchi held intensive talks with several Swedish officials, including Gunnar Strömmer, Minister for Justice, Lena Petra Lund, National Police Commissioner of the Swedish Police, and Stefan Hector, Deputy National Police Commissioner.

These bilateral discussions reviewed various issues of common interest related to the security of both countries, as well as the coordination of efforts and mechanisms to confront them from a shared perspective. They also discussed all emerging security threats and risks at the regional and international levels.

Culminating these discussions, and cementing the desire of both parties to elevate their bilateral security cooperation towards a sustainable future partnership, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in the field of security cooperation. The agreement is between the DGSN/DGST pole on one hand, and the Swedish National Police on the other.

This MoU aims to create a supportive contractual foundation that allows for the enhancement of procedures for exchanging expertise, experiences, and best practices in policing. It also aims to strengthen bilateral cooperation in security training methods and the modalities for responding to information requests related to bilateral cooperation issues.

The MoU also defines clear and swift procedures for the exchange and sharing of information between the police and security services of both countries on various files concerning terrorism, extremism, and organized crime. This particularly includes cases of illicit trafficking in drugs and psychotropic substances, cybercrime and hacking, economic and financial crime, illegal immigration and human trafficking, violent crimes, and more.

The Swedish side proposed the inclusion of Moroccan security services in the European Network for Fugitive Active Search Teams (ENFAST), given the significant role Moroccan security plays in arresting and pursuing internationally wanted persons in cases of transnational organized crime. 

Emphasis was also placed on the importance of learning from the Moroccan security model and the necessity of expanding police cooperation with Morocco, making it a model for security partnerships, as it is considered an important and reliable partner.

The visit included bilateral talks between Hammouchi and officials from Sweden's intelligence and internal security services, foremost among them Charlotte von Essen, Director-General of the Swedish Security Service (SÄPO).

These talks addressed the various security challenges arising from the activities of terrorist groups in several regions of the world, especially in the Sahel-Saharan region, the Middle East, and Europe. They also touched upon virtual operations in the fight against terrorism and organized crime, particularly their cyber dimensions and cross-border connections.

Hammouchi conducted field visits to a number of sectors and operational units of the Swedish security services, including central intervention units, K-9 police units, and cybercrime fighting services.

This visit is clear evidence of the importance of bilateral security cooperation between the Kingdoms of Morocco and Sweden, as active partners in international efforts to enhance security and stability. It also confirms the shared determination to continue strengthening security cooperation and consolidating intelligence coordination in the face of all threats to the security of both nations.

Hammouchi’s visit embodies the commitment of the DGSN/DGST to open up to security partners in various countries around the world, in a way that enhances shared and collective security, and allows for the support of endeavors and efforts aimed at neutralizing all threats to regional and international security.