Moroccan Man in France Sentenced to 14 Months for Drug Trafficking, Avoids Deportation

Convicted and then incarcerated following the hearing. Based on the information provided by his companion to the gendarmes, a 25-year-old Moroccan was arrested in the middle of the street in the town of Saint-Gilles-Croix-de-Vie on April 28 while walking his child - a baby - in a stroller, reports Actu.fr. As soon as he saw the law enforcement officers, he hid behind a tree, abandoning the stroller in a parking lot. He hid his bag containing cannabis there. During a search of his home, the investigators seized two scales, a few grams of cannabis, a 15 gram rock of cocaine and cash in 10 and 20 euro denominations.

The defendant appeared in court on Friday. During the hearing, he told the president Émilie Rayneau "to be a consumer but not a dealer. I just helped out three or four acquaintances." Statements contradicted by people interviewed who confirmed that he was selling them drugs. Prosecutor Eric Bret expressed reservations about the defendant’s statements. "These are not just simple bailouts, the telephone conversations are unequivocal. You say you consume some 700 euros worth of drugs per month. With what money can you afford such consumption without dealing?" he asked him. The defendant said "to be a self-employed person, buying vehicles, repairing them, reselling them to garages".

The public prosecutor is convinced that the defendant is involved in drug trafficking. This Moroccan who arrived from Morocco in February 2015 is known to the justice system. His first conviction dates back to December of the same year. His criminal record bears 10 other mentions. Not to mention several committal orders. His companion also filed a complaint against him for domestic violence. Eric Bret requested a sentence of one year in prison and the total revocation of the previous probation sentence of six months handed down in December 2019. He also requested the committal order with, upon his release from prison, an exclusion from the national territory.

"Yes, he consumes, sometimes helps out, but we are far from a major trafficking operation. He has had an official activity since January. He was raised until his majority in his native country by a grandmother then an aunt, his parents having come to France when he was 6 years old and who did not take him with them. There is no element of radicalization as has been mentioned, he is simply a practicing Muslim. His companion just wants to get rid of him," declared Manuela Riteau, the defense lawyer.

The verdict is in: the defendant was sentenced to eight months in prison. The court revoked the probation sentence. As a result, he will serve a total sentence of 14 months in prison, and has already been incarcerated. The only positive note for the young Moroccan: he will not be deported from the national territory.