From Tangier to Dubai, then Turkey: the new exile of the drug barons of the strait

Historically, the northern part of Moroccan territory was the privileged sanctuary of fugitive criminals operating in the strait, such as Abdellah El Haj Sadek, nicknamed the "Messi of hashish". However, according to an investigation by El País, the shift of these local mafias to the cocaine market has pushed them to relocate their operations center to the United Arab Emirates for about four years.

On Bladi.net: Dubai is no longer a paradise: Why drug lords are eyeing Morocco

Among the dozen leaders identified in this Emirati metropolis are several major players in the Moroccan route. This is the case of "Tapi", a boss from Ceuta. An informant reveals that this individual owns a residence in Dubai, while continuing to travel regularly to Morocco. Other figures in the traffic passing through the strait, such as Alejandro Salgado or the former pilot Sergio Mora, have also settled there.

If Dubai has seduced these criminals with its opulence allowing to launder colossal sums in total discretion, it is also for its judicial complexity. A Spanish agent specialized in organized crime emphasizes the striking difference in international cooperation: faced with the former Emirati administrative obstacles, investigators note on the contrary that "Morocco has links and communications that allow us to maneuver".

However, this strategic refuge is beginning to falter. The recent pressures of the European Union concerning money laundering have pushed the Emirates to change their attitude, facilitating recent extraditions to France and Belgium. To this diplomatic turnaround is added the regional instability caused by the war involving Iran, Israel and the United States, making the area extremely uncertain.

On Bladi.net: From Dubai to Morocco: Why the narcos won’t find refuge in the Kingdom

Faced with international arrest warrants that have suddenly become effective, the daily life of this drug elite is becoming more complicated. While some capos are already negotiating their surrender, the judicial system is anticipating a new migration of these drug traffickers. Experts are now closely monitoring certain regions of Turkey, perceived as the next asylum for these fugitives.