200 dirhams for a few peanuts and three dates in Marrakech: vendor ends up at police station

The incident took place on Friday, September 11, in Marrakech. A tourist, described by the local press as a French influencer, stopped in front of a cart selling dried fruit in Jemaa el-Fna Square.

His order was particularly small: around 50 grams of sugared peanuts, three dates and two pieces of dried fig. Yet the vendor reportedly asked him for 200 dirhams, or approximately 18 euros.

On Bladi.net : He Demands Money from Tourists in Marrakech, and Their Video Turns Him In to Police

The visitor filmed the transaction before sharing the footage on social media. Quickly circulated, the video sparked numerous reactions and enabled the authorities to identify the seller. In Marrakech, a previous video filmed by tourists had already led to the arrest of a fake guide.

The stall closed, the vendor taken to the police station

Police arrested the vendor that evening, in coordination with Marrakech’s fifth police district. He was subsequently placed in police custody on the prosecutor’s instructions, pending the results of the investigation.

Local authorities also reportedly intervened to suspend the activity and close the sales outlet. The investigation will notably have to establish the exact circumstances of the transaction and determine any offenses that may be held against the vendor.

This swift response comes amid heightened vigilance over practices likely to harm Marrakech’s tourist image. Last March, the filmed scam involving a fake guide in the medina had already prompted the police to intervene immediately.

The case also recalls a previous incident at the same location: in 2019, a snake charmer had demanded 450 dirhams from a tourist for a simple photo. This time, a few dried fruits charged at 200 dirhams were enough to land the vendor at the police station.