Moroccan authorities have arrested an Algerian national thought to be a member of Jund al-Khilafa, a jihadist group responsible for the September beheading of a French tourist.

The operation was carried out by police near the border town of Ahfir, about 30km north of Oujda, according to an Interior Ministry statement, which did not give a date for the arrest.

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The Algerian national, whose identity was not revealed, was “in possession of large quantities of dangerous substances” and his arrest also led to the discovery of firearms.

“The suspect was accompanied by another person, whose identity is the subject of investigation,” the statement added.

Jund al-Khilafa (Soldiers of the Caliphate) – who have pledged allegiance to Islamic State – last year claimed responsibility for kidnapping and killing Herv Gourdel, a 55-year-old mountain guide in the Djurdjura ranges southeast of Algiers.

The Algerian army mobilised some 3,000 troops in the search for the Frenchman’s body and eventually found it earlier this month after a tip-off from a suspected militant being held in custody.

Gourdel’s remains will be transferred to France on Monday.

As part of the investigation, prosecution cases have been brought against 15 people, all Algerian nationals.

At least six jihadis have also been killed, including the leader of Jund al-Khilafa, Abdelmalek Gouri, who the army said it had killed in December.

The long common border between Algeria and Morocco has been officially closed for more than 20 years, owing to persistent diplomatic disputes.

However, it is still the site of various forms of contraband trafficking.