Country Hub

Security Services in Morocco

High risk

Operating in Morocco? Speak with a security consultant.

Morocco is North Africa’s most visited country and a significant commercial hub with strong links to France, Spain, and increasingly the Gulf. Casablanca hosts the regional headquarters of multiple international companies. The country has a well-developed tourism economy alongside a terrorism risk that Moroccan authorities actively manage through one of the Maghreb’s more capable counter-terrorism services.

FCDO advises against all travel to within 30km of the Algerian border and to areas of the Western Sahara. General caution is required across Morocco. The terrorism threat in Morocco is assessed as likely by FCDO, based on the frequency of disrupted plots.

Terrorism: disrupted cells and attack history

The 2018 Imlil murders, attributed to Daesh-inspired perpetrators, were the most significant terrorism attack on foreign nationals in Morocco in the current period. Two Scandinavian tourists were killed in the Atlas Mountains in a premeditated attack. The perpetrators had pledged allegiance to Daesh.

Moroccan authorities have since that attack and throughout 2022-2025 regularly announced disruption of planned terrorist operations. The DGST (Direction Generale de la Surveillance du Territoire) is credited as one of the more effective counter-terrorism intelligence services in North Africa. Disruption is not the same as elimination: the threat remains live and current.

The 2023 earthquake

The September 2023 earthquake, which killed approximately 3,000 people and destroyed large parts of the Al Haouz province including villages near Marrakech, changed the risk picture for mountain and rural areas. Road infrastructure in the High Atlas remains affected. Any planned visit to mountain regions requires current infrastructure verification. Medical evacuation routes from Atlas areas should be confirmed before any group visit to affected zones.

Counter-terrorism capability

Moroccan counter-terrorism capability is noteworthy. The DGST has a sustained record of disrupting attack planning in the period since the 2003 Casablanca bombings. This does not reduce the threat to zero: it means that the threat is being actively managed by a capable service. For visiting executives, the practical implication is that Moroccan authorities are genuinely engaged in threat management and that coordination through appropriate channels is possible.

Casablanca operational environment

For Casablanca-based corporate operations, the primary practical risks are motorcycle drive-by theft, vehicle crime, and counterfeit alcohol. A vetted driver with a tracked vehicle, accommodation in licensed hotels, and standard personal security awareness are the appropriate baseline. Additional close protection is relevant for high-profile individuals and for any itinerary involving movement outside central Casablanca.

Source: FCDO Travel Advice: Morocco (2025). OSAC Morocco Country Security Report 2024. Human Rights Watch: 2018 Imlil Attack Reporting. US Geological Survey: 2023 Morocco Earthquake Data. US State Department Morocco Travel Advisory (2025).

Coverage

Cities We Cover

Casablanca

High risk

Morocco's commercial capital and primary business hub. Motorcycle drive-by theft is frequent across central districts. Methanol deaths from counterfeit alcohol sold in informal settings are documented. Moroccan authorities regularly disrupt planned terrorist attacks. DGST intelligence capability is considered one of the more effective counter-terrorism services in the Maghreb.

View city guide →

Legal Framework

Security Regulations

Firearms

Armed private security in Morocco is heavily controlled by the state. Commercial armed close protection by private operators is not generally available to civilian clients in the market. State security services and gendarmerie can be requested for high-profile visitors through formal channels. Practically, most commercial close protection in Morocco operates unarmed with the understanding that armed support requires police coordination. Foreign nationals carrying firearms independently is not legally available.

Licensing

Morocco's Direction Generale de la Surveillance du Territoire (DGST) and the Ministry of Interior oversee security sector activity. Private security companies are licensed under Moroccan business law. The regulatory framework for private security is less formalised than in European markets. Operator vetting should include direct reference checks, Moroccan corporate registration verification, and background screening rather than reliance on a centralised licensing register.

Foreign Operators

Foreign security operators must work through Moroccan-registered entities. Advisory roles are more practicable than operational armed deployment. Pre-deployment coordination with Moroccan authorities through the appropriate channels is advisable for any high-profile visit.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

In December 2018, two Scandinavian students were murdered near the village of Imlil in the Atlas Mountains, close to Marrakech. The perpetrators, convicted and executed, had pledged allegiance to Daesh and filmed the killings. The case established that Daesh-inspired attacks on foreign tourists can occur in Morocco outside the traditional urban threat environment. It informed subsequent threat assessments for mountain trekking and rural tourism in Morocco. The Moroccan authorities responded with significantly increased security presence in the Atlas region.

Motorcycle drive-by theft is a common crime methodology in Casablanca and other Moroccan cities. A motorcycle with two riders approaches a pedestrian, typically on a pavement or at a crossing, and snatches handbags, phone, or other items in a fast drive-past. The victim has limited time to react. Counter-measures include: carrying bags on the building side of the pavement rather than the road side, keeping phones out of sight on foot, and using inside pockets or body-worn carriers for valuables. The methodology also operates against vehicle occupants at red lights: windows should remain closed in traffic.

Deaths from methanol poisoning in counterfeit alcoholic drinks have been documented in Morocco, particularly in informal entertainment settings and unlicensed venues. Methanol is indistinguishable from ethanol by appearance, smell, or taste. It causes blindness, organ failure, and death at relatively small doses. The risk is concentrated in unlicensed bars, informal accommodation, and counterfeit spirits sold in non-formal-retail environments. In licensed hotels and international brand establishments, the risk is negligible. Travellers should purchase alcohol only from licensed hotel bars or international retail chains.

Get in Touch

Request a Consultation

Describe your security requirements below. All enquiries are confidential and handled by licensed consultants.