Rabat, June 3 (IANS): Morocco's Central Bureau for Judiciary Investigations (BCIJ) on Wednesday arrested a terrorist cell operating in several cities of the North African country and arrested nine alleged Islamic State (IS) recruiters, the interior ministry said in a statement.

The BCIJ, under the general directorate for territory surveillance (DGST), dismantled, the terrorist cell that was operating in Sidi Moumen (Casablanca), Oued Zem, Boujniba, Fqih Bensaleh and Ouled Said (Kasbat Tadla), Moroccan news agency MAP reported citing the statement.

Those arrested made secret contacts with IS leaders “to coordinate operations of sending Moroccan volunteer fighters to this hot spot and the necessary financial support”, the ministry statement said.

Among the cell members is a former convict who was sued under the anti-terror law and belonged to a terrorist network linked to Al Qaeda in Iraq, dismantled in 2008.

Wednesday's operation was part of Morocco's proactive approach to counter terror threats.

“The cell's dismantling confirms IS's determination to create terrorist sleeper cells in Morocco, including Moroccan fighters, who had military training in IS camps in order to carry out dangerous terrorist operations in the kingdom,” the ministry said.

The accused will be brought to justice once the investigation is completed under the supervision of the public prosecutor, it said.