The incredible cooperation between Morocco, Belgium and the Netherlands that brings down drug traffickers

Morocco does not extradite its nationals. Whether they have fled the United Arab Emirates or been extradited from Dubai to Morocco. However, the kingdom is working to advance legal proceedings against drug traffickers of Moroccan origin or to compel them to serve the sentences imposed on them by the Belgian or Dutch justice system. In addition to these actions, Morocco is initiating legal proceedings against them.

This is the case of Younes "Magico" El Ballouti, the younger brother of the recently extradited drug baron Othman El Ballouti. He had fled the United Arab Emirates. Prosecuted for possession of a false passport, he was sentenced to five years in prison. He risks other convictions, as he is involved in other cases. And Belgium has forwarded his files to Morocco, which has acknowledged receipt. This is a cause for concern for Othman’s "brother-in-law", Farhan, a high-level criminal who managed to escape just before his extradition from Dubai to Morocco, thumbing his nose at Belgium, as well as the United Arab Emirates and Morocco.

After Dubai, another destination could become the new Eldorado for drug traffickers. This is Sierra Leone, an extremely poor West African country, officially led by President Julius Maada Bio. But his son-in-law Bolle Jos Leijdekkers, originally from Prinsenbeek in the Netherlands, described as a modern-day Pablo Escobar, is said to be the one who runs the country. Will there soon be a rush of wanted traffickers to Sierra Leone?