The "Forest 33" Crime: A Decisive Operation by the National Brigade and the Royal Gendarmerie Leads to the Arrest of the Mastermind!

Developments on the ground and in the security situation regarding the “Forest 33” case (Trontroua) on the outskirts of Benslimane and Mansouria have reached the highest alert levels, following the discovery of a third body in an advanced state of decomposition within the forest area during search operations involving more than 300 members of the Royal Gendarmerie and auxiliary forces.

This new discovery prompted the Public Prosecutor’s Office to immediately transfer the body to the medical examiner’s office for an autopsy to determine the identity of the deceased and the cause of death, along with the imposition of a strict security cordon and a complete ban on press coverage inside the forest to facilitate the work of the investigative teams and the forensic police.

On the judicial and intelligence front, a joint security operation between the National Judicial Police Brigade and the National Royal Gendarmerie Brigade—coordinated with precise intelligence from the “DST”— to the arrest of the prime suspect (28 years old) on the outskirts of the city of Ouzane. He has a criminal record and is accused of committing premeditated murder with a firearm on behalf of a criminal network.

The operation also led to the arrest of his brother, who was wanted nationwide, while intensive investigations continue to dismantle all branches of the network and identify all security and institutional responsibilities to prevent the recurrence of such tragedies.