Tags: Morocco, real estate, corruption, Hacker Jabaroot, espionage، Pegasus,
A leak of information about a senior Moroccan intelligence official has allegedly revealed the use of Pegasus spyware and raised questions about corruption within the Makhzen regime. Recently, a data leak shook Moroccan intelligence services, revealing sensitive information that seems to confirm the Moroccan regime’s use of the Israeli-made Pegasus spyware. The revelations come from hacked documents, which a group named Jabarout posted on the Telegram platform. The story was extensively covered by Spanish journalist Ignacio Cembrero in an investigation published by the newspaper El Confidencial.
The Mastermind Behind the Espionage
The hacked documents target Mohamed Raji, who is described as the second most powerful figure within the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance (DGST), Morocco’s counter-intelligence and secret police agency. Raji, whose intelligence career spans over 30 years, is presented as the architect of the country’s phone surveillance program, including the widespread deployment of Pegasus. Although the official director of the DGST is Abdellatif Hammouchi, sources claim that Raji has considerable influence and may have even received orders directly from King Mohammed VI, bypassing the official hierarchy.
The leaks from Jabarout include Raji’s personal information, such as his ID card, monthly salary, and bank details. They also reveal the alleged acquisition of real estate in industrial zones of Béni Mellal for 30 million dirhams (approximately 3 million euros), raising questions about the origin of his wealth. Other documents suggest that Raji may have received commissions for the purchase of spy equipment from companies based in Europe.
Espionage, Corruption, and Internal Betrayals
According to El Confidencial, the hacked documents belonging to Raji indicate that he set up a corruption scheme in collaboration with French partners, including a certain Rachid Hassani. This network allegedly used shell companies to collect commissions on the purchase of espionage technology from Hungary, Cyprus, and Luxembourg. The leaks also claim that « backdoors » were intentionally left in these systems, allowing information to be stolen and sold to foreign intelligence services in the Middle East and Europe.
This explosive situation has also exposed an internal conflict. A « third party » allegedly exploited these vulnerabilities to obtain free copies of the intercepted information. This data isn’t limited to the surveillance of opposition figures or foreign personalities like French President Emmanuel Macron and former European Council President Charles Michel. It also shows that internal espionage targeted members of the Moroccan military, ministers (including former Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit), Prime Minister Aziz Akhannouch, and even the royal family itself.
Official Silence and Internal Rebellion
Following the revelations, the silence of Moroccan authorities and the local press was notable, contrasting with the public reaction in 2021 when the initial Jabarout data leak was dismissed as a « disinformation operation » orchestrated by « Algerian hackers. » The authenticity of the documents has since been confirmed.
Ignacio Cembrero’s article suggests that this leak could be a « dagger to the heart of the Moroccan security apparatus, » perceived as the first in a long series. According to sources, the leak might be the result of an internal rebellion within the intelligence services, triggered by dissatisfied agents. The DGST acknowledged in a statement that between 2022 and mid-2023, 38 agents defected, and over 160 of them did not return after traveling abroad, revealing a crisis within Morocco’s secret services.
The Jabarout revelations don’t stop there. In April, the group disclosed a database from the National Social Security Fund, which included the data of two million employees. In June, notarized documents of luxurious real estate purchases by Foreign Minister Nasser Bourita and the head of the external intelligence services, Yassine Mansouri, were also published. The Moroccan Association of Notaries officially informed the public prosecutor’s office of the leak, lending legitimacy to these documents.
These repeated leaks raise serious concerns among the Moroccan public, not only regarding the security of personal data but also about the extent of corruption and nepotism at the highest levels of the state. They expose a system where high-ranking officials are accused of acquiring real estate and land through fraudulent means. The documents also reveal widespread surveillance of journalists, politicians, and citizens, highlighting the regime’s authoritarian practices.
Source: Africa Inside
