Morocco
Moroccan customs used AI and data analysis to recover 730 million dirhams, per Hespress
Hespress, citing well-informed sources, says the customs administration reviewed declared import values and recovered 730 million dirhams from dozens of importers. No official customs statement is included.
What was reported
Hespress English reported on 1 November 2026 that Morocco's customs and indirect taxes administration used AI and data analysis to review the declared values of imported goods. According to the report, the reviews led to the recovery of 730 million dirhams in additional duties and fees.1,2,3
Febrayer puts the amount at about 74.5 million US dollars, and Al Arabiya's headline gives the same dollar figure. No exchange rate date is stated.2,4
The money came from dozens of importers, mainly active in Casablanca, Tanger and Agadir. The exact number of importers is not given.1,2,3
How the reviews worked
Information systems process large volumes of data from commercial invoices, customs declarations and supply sources. They flag imports whose declared value needs a closer look. The audits found gaps between prices in customs declarations and commercial data on similar imports.1,2,3
Hespress's sources say AI tools sped up the choice of files for review by targeting high-risk declarations, instead of relying only on traditional checks.1,3
Reviewers then checked original invoices, shipping documents, payment records and bank transfers, to compare declared values with the prices actually paid. The sources describe these reviews as taking place after customs clearance, so goods at ports and crossings are not stopped.1,2,3
A related probe
In a related Hespress report, customs compared declared invoices against administration databases and data from foreign customs authorities. Per sources, that probe covered files for goods worth nearly 650 million dirhams and generated nearly 50 million dirhams in extra duties, fines and charges.5
Limits of the figures
Hespress, citing well-informed sources, says a price gap is not final proof of customs fraud, because prices depend on contract terms, quantities, quality and transport costs. Industrie du Maroc also says anomalies must be told apart from intentional fraud.1,3
Hespress's sources also say the checks covered suspected collusion between importers and foreign exporters over invoicing and manipulated values.1
What could not be verified
- The 730 million dirhams comes from unnamed well-informed sources cited by Hespress. No official customs statement is included.
- The period over which the 730 million dirhams was recovered is not stated.
- Which AI system, vendor or method was used is not stated.
- How much of the amount is due to AI rather than ordinary audit work is not established, nor whether it was paid or only assessed.
- Whether any case involved intentional fraud, or collusion with foreign exporters, is not established.
Sources
- Hespress English, 1 Nov 2026
- Febrayer, 1 Nov 2026
- Industrie du Maroc, 1 Nov 2026
- Al Arabiya English, 1 Nov 2026
- Hespress (English)