Dubai’s "Super Cartel" Crumbles: Moroccan Drug Lords Among Seven Kingpins Brought to Justice

Ridouan Taghi, leader of the Mocro Maffia, the Moroccan mafia active in the Netherlands, Belgium and Spain, is currently serving a life sentence in the Netherlands. Othman El Ballouti, on the other hand, has recently been extradited to Belgium. According to Dutch media, he is also the last member of the cartel to be arrested. The third Moroccan, Hosni A., alias "Hitler", has also been sentenced to a prison term in the Netherlands.

The cartel initially had five members with ties to the Netherlands, including Rico de Chellein, who was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The list also includes "Tito" G., a Bosnian national convicted by the Dutch courts and awaiting extradition from Dubai; Danny Ruff, arrested in Amsterdam in possession of two stolen Van Gogh paintings; and an Italian owner of cafes and restaurants throughout Europe.

These drug barons, who were enjoying their money in Dubai, were arrested thanks to police coordination between Dubai, Europe and Morocco.