Moroccan Drug Lord Extradited from Belgium Sentenced to 6 Years

Extradited from Belgium in August 2022, R.O, alias "Temsamani" headed one of the largest drug trafficking networks in Morocco. He was sentenced on Monday to 6 years in prison and a fine of 10,000 dirhams, as well as the payment of 360 million dirhams to customs, reports the daily Al Akhbar.

Temsamani received these reduced sentences due to the testimony at the bar of two drug barons who had already served 22 years in prison, who supported that they did not know him. The convicted person was accused, among other things, of complicity with other drug barons in a case dating back to 2016, of drug trafficking between Morocco and Europe, of corruption at the northern ports through which he smuggled his drugs, hidden in food and other cargo shipments.

Two of his accomplices were sentenced respectively to 4 years in prison, a 5,000 dirham fine and 270 million dirhams to customs, and 2 years in prison and 12 million dirhams to be paid to customs. But these sentences are insignificant compared to the more than 250 years in prison to which the other members of the "Temsamani network" were sentenced, including gendarmes (26), national security agents (16), a customs officer, government officials, merchants, truck drivers, a Dutchman, a Spaniard, farmers, night watchmen, business leaders, etc.

"Temsamani", naturalized Belgian, was the subject of an Interpol international arrest warrant. Arrested by the Belgian police and extradited in August 2022 to Morocco, he was presented to the public prosecutor’s office, before being incarcerated in the El Arjat prison.