A joint provincial commission dismantled, Monday, a clandestine unit manufacturing banned plastic bags, located in the rural commune of Oulad Azzouz (Province of Nouaceur), and seized more than 18.6 tons of prohibited plastic bags, raw materials and plastic waste, the Ministry of Industry, Trade, Green and Digital Economy said.

The operation, conducted by a committee, which includes the Ministry, local authorities and the Royal Gendarmerie, resulted in the seizure of more than 13.2 tons of raw materials, 1,200 kg of industrial plastic rolls, 1,260 kg of prohibited plastic bags, 3 tons of plastic waste, in addition to 25 machines used in the manufacturing of prohibited bags, the Ministry explained in a statement.

The authorities have seized all the machinery and tools of this illegal unit and plastic products, closed the warehouse and opened an investigation, the same source noted.