Crackdown on counterfeit motor oil network in Casablanca’s outskirts

The National Customs Brigade has ramped up efforts in collaboration with the Royal Gendarmerie to dismantle a network specializing in the counterfeiting of motor oils and spare parts in several peripheral areas of Casablanca, including Lahraouiyine, Bouskoura, and Sidi Hajjaj.

This network has converted unauthorized warehouses into clandestine manufacturing and distribution units for counterfeit products. Investigations aim to identify those responsible, following data collection by the risk analysis and monitoring unit of the customs control services.

Informed sources indicate that these investigations were initiated after a significant rise in the use of counterfeit motor oils, particularly by construction companies, attracted by their lower prices compared to genuine oils. This troubling trend has coincided with an increase in complaints from both Moroccan and foreign distributors regarding the proliferation of counterfeit products in the national market.

The clandestine units source used oils—primarily from oil changes at gas stations and traditional garages—at very low prices, sometimes as low as 20 or 30 dirhams per barrel. These oils are then filtered, mixed with chemical additives to restore a clear appearance and some viscosity, and repackaged. This process occurs under unsafe conditions, without any safety standards, utilizing hazardous substances.

The investigations have also uncovered sophisticated counterfeiting methods, including the use of fake labels and barcodes that mimic international motor oil brands. When scanned, these codes redirect to food, cosmetic, or appliance products, misleading technical inspections. Fake invoices, dating back several years, are also employed to justify the origin of stock, masquerading it as industrial waste designated for recycling.

It has been established that these illegal activities are conducted without any official authorization or declaration to the relevant authorities, despite the fact that processing such waste requires special approval and strict regulations.

Ongoing research, which is expected to lead to arrests and legal proceedings, has revealed the methods employed by this fraudulent network. Notably, it exploits young workers, some of whom are minors, within the production units. The complex counterfeiting process relies on the chemical structure of oil (carbon and hydrogen), enriched with additives post-filtration to simulate new oil.

This scandal highlights a significant danger to vehicle users' safety, especially as businesses specializing in the industrial recycling of waste, particularly motor oils, find themselves directly undermined by these illicit practices.