Alleged Marseille Drug Kingpin to be Extradited from Morocco to France

"The person concerned has accepted his extradition for drug trafficking offenses and intends to return to France as soon as possible to defend himself," his lawyer, Me Philippe Ohayon, told the press, adding that the Court of Cassation in Rabat should initiate the extradition procedure of Félix Bingui as early as "next week" and that it could take months.

Félix Bingui, the alleged drug baron in Marseille, was the subject of an arrest warrant for "importing drugs in an organized gang, transporting, possessing, acquiring, transferring drugs, criminal association [...] money laundering and failure to justify resources".

His arrest on March 8 in Casablanca was hailed by the French authorities. It is "a major blow to drug trafficking thanks to our cooperation with the Moroccan authorities," said Gérald Darmanin, the French Minister of the Interior.

The Marseille drug trafficker, who regularly went to Morocco, took refuge in the kingdom after the outbreak in February 2023 of a "war" with the rival gang "DZ Mafia" for the control of territories where drug sales generate up to 80,000 euros in revenue per day. Deadly violence that has left 49 dead, including four collateral victims, and 123 injured.