The Spanish Interior Minister, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, presided over a formal ceremony today in the capital, Madrid, where the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance, Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi, was awarded the Grand Cross of Merit from the Spanish Civil Guard, the highest honor granted by this esteemed security institution to foreign dignitaries.
According to a statement from the National Security and Territorial Surveillance Directorate, the ceremony was attended by the Director General of the Spanish Civil Guard, Ms. Mercedes González Fernández, and General Luis Palacios Paniagua, alongside senior security officials from both countries.
During his speech, the Spanish Interior Minister highlighted that this award reflects the significant appreciation of the Spanish authorities for Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi’s pivotal role in enhancing the security partnership between Morocco and Spain, and for his ongoing efforts to develop operational cooperation in combatting terrorism and organized crime in all its forms.
The Spanish minister praised what he described as the “extraordinary efforts” made by Hammouchi to modernize and develop the national security and territorial surveillance apparatus in Morocco, emphasizing that these institutions have now achieved a prestigious status and serve as a global model in the fields of security, intelligence, and counterterrorism.
Grande-Marlaska reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continuing close cooperation with the Kingdom of Morocco, within a partnership based on mutual trust, indicating that hosting the 2030 World Cup would be an opportunity to strengthen this collaboration and ensure its joint success.
For its part, the leadership of the Spanish Civil Guard regarded granting the Grand Cross to Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi as a “genuine testament to the high regard” for the exceptional security cooperation between the Moroccan and Spanish institutions, particularly regarding the fight against cross-border threats, including terrorism, drug trafficking, irregular migration, and cybercrime.
This honor comes following the Spanish government’s approval to grant the award based on a proposal from the Interior Minister, in recognition of the Director General of National Security and Territorial Surveillance’s significant contributions to enhancing bilateral security cooperation.
The occasion also provided an opportunity for discussions between Hammouchi and several senior Spanish security officials, focusing on ways to enhance joint operations and share expertise to address various security risks.
It is worth noting that the Spanish authorities previously awarded Mr. Abdellatif Hammouchi the Honorary Cross of Security Merit with Red Distinction in 2014, while French authorities have awarded him three high distinctions, the latest being the Officer of the Order of the Legion of Honour in June 2025.
On the Arab front, he was awarded the Prince Nayef Arab Security Award of the First Class by the Arab Interior Ministers Council in 2025, in recognition of his efforts to cement Arab security cooperation.
In 2011, His Majesty King Mohammed VI bestowed upon him the Throne Order of the Officer class, in appreciation of his outstanding contributions to the investigations related to the Argana terrorist incident, making him the first Moroccan security official to receive this prestigious royal honor.
