A raid by the **royal gendarmerie of Bouskoura** uncovered an alarming practice in the province of Nouaceur: the irrigation of agricultural crops with **untreated wastewater**. This revelation, stemming from a report by Governor **Jalal Benhayoun**, raises **serious health and environmental issues**, reports *Assabah* in its edition of Tuesday, February 25.
### **A well-organized fraud**
The investigation revealed that several farmers, particularly in the municipality of **Ouled Saleh** and around **Berrechid**, were diverting water from the sewage network using sophisticated equipment and **large gas cylinders**. The water thus collected was used to irrigate **hectares of crops**, including **barley, alfalfa, and various vegetables intended for human consumption**, such as mint.
### **A major risk to public health**
The use of untreated wastewater for growing foodstuffs poses a **direct threat to consumer health**. These practices promote **bacterial and chemical contamination** of soils and agricultural products, thereby exposing the population to increased risks of **poisoning and diseases**, specifies *Assabah*.
### **An ongoing investigation, several arrests**
Under the supervision of the **King’s prosecutor near the Aïn Sebaâ court**, the investigation led to the arrest of **fifteen farmers**, including a **former municipal president**. The investigations, conducted by the Bouskoura brigade under the direction of **Colonel-Major Abdelmajid El Malkouni**, could reveal **other actors involved** in this illegal network.
As the investigation progresses, the authorities remain mobilized to **identify all those responsible** and put an end to these practices that jeopardize public health, concludes *Assabah*.