Moroccan Family Arrested for Exploiting Agricultural Workers in France

The case began at the end of 2023 with the filing of 22 complaints against the same family who recruited agricultural workers in Morocco. Their method? Promise attractive salaries, decent housing and proper papers. In reality, the victims had to pay a significant sum before leaving and finance their trip.

Arrived in France, it’s the cold shower. The workers are crammed into unsanitary conditions in Lot-et-Garonne. "They found themselves seven in 10 square meter apartments, in appalling conditions, without heating or blankets, with bare electrical wires..." confides a source close to the investigation to the newspaper Sud Ouest.

To read: French Farmer Charged with Human Trafficking, Exploiting Moroccan Workers

At Bordeaux-Mérignac airport, they had to pay 12,000 euros in cash. The couple, Amal, 43, and Chahid, 36, aided by members of their family, exploited these vulnerable workers, forcing them to work illegally and threatening reprisals on their families in Morocco.

Despite their denials, the confessions of three accomplices confirmed the victims’ statements. Amal and Chahid were placed in pre-trial detention. They will all appear before the Bordeaux Criminal Court on February 10, 2025.