Morocco’s top police chief awarded in Madrid Grand Cross of Order of Merit of Spanish Civil Guard

RABAT - Spanish Minister of the Interior Fernando Grande-Marlaska chaired on Tuesday in Madrid the official ceremony to present Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance Abdellatif Hammouchi with the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Civil Guard.

This medal is the highest distinction awarded by this security institution to foreign dignitaries, according to a statement from the General Directorate of National Security and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance hub (DGSN-DGST).

The ceremony was attended by Director General of the Spanish Civil Guard Mercedes González Fernández, and Major General Luis Peláez Piñeiro, of the Civil Guard's intelligence service, as well as several Moroccan and Spanish senior security figures.

In his speech on this occasion, the Spanish Interior Minister stated that awarding the highest distinction issued by the Spanish Civil Guard to Hammouchi is a recognition by Spanish authorities of the distinguished role played by the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance in strengthening and promoting the security partnership between Morocco and Spain, as well as his ongoing efforts to reinforce operational cooperation and mutual assistance to neutralize risks and threats to both countries’ security. 

Grande-Marlaska also praised "the exceptional efforts" made by Hammouchi to develop and modernize the Security and Territorial Surveillance services of the Kingdom of Morocco, transforming it into a global leading model in the fight against terrorism and organized crime.

He further affirmed his country's commitment to cooperation, based on mutual trust, with Morocco in order to ensure the success of the 2030 FIFA World Cup, which he deems an opportunity to further strengthen the bonds of brotherhood and cooperation between the Moroccan and Spanish Kingdoms.

In the same context, Spanish Civil Guard officials emphasized that awarding the Civil Guard’s highest Medal to Hammouchi is a true testimony to the high appreciation of the outstanding cooperation between the Spanish Civil Guard and the DGSN/DGST hub in various security areas and issues of common interest. 

This official ceremony follows the Spanish government's prior approval, based on a proposal by the Minister of the Interior, to award the Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Civil Guard to the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, in recognition of his remarkable efforts to promote joint security cooperation between the two countries.

On the sidelines of the ceremony, a meeting was held between the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance and Spanish security officials

Discussions tackled ways and means of bolstering joint operations to counter terrorism and violent extremism threats as well as the repercussions of transnational organized crime, including the fight against illicit drug and psychotropic substance trafficking, human trafficking, organized illegal immigration, cybercrime, etc.

Spanish authorities had previously awarded the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance in 2014 with the Order of the Honorary Cross of Merit for Security, with Red Distinction, among the highest Spanish honors, in recognition of his outstanding contributions to establishing a model security partnership between Morocco and Spain.

Similarly, French authorities have previously awarded the Director General of DGSN and DGST three high decorations, including the National Order of Merit by the President of the French Republic in 2011, the French Police Gold Medal of Honor on August 5, 2024, and the Officer's Medal of the Legion of Honor in June 2025. 

At the Arab level, the Council of Arab Interior Ministers, at its meeting in 2025, awarded the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance the Prince Naif Medal for Arab Security for First Class, in recognition of his efforts to strengthen Arab security and support it at the international level.

Hammouchi had previously received Royal recognition in 2011, when His Majesty King Mohammed VI, may God assist Him, awarded him the Officer of the Ouissam El Arch, in recognition of his efforts in the investigations related to the Argana terrorist attack. At the time, this decoration was unprecedented in the history of Morocco's security institutions, as Hammouchi was the first senior security official to receive this Royal Ouissam.