Moroccan Officials Face Scrutiny in "Desert Escobar" Drug Trafficking Case

While the public prosecutor’s office has evidence provided by the investigators of the National Brigade of the Judicial Police (BNPJ), the defendants have provided unconvincing answers to the prosecutor’s questions. Questioned about the transfer of large sums of money to his bank account, Said Naciri, president of Wydad de Casablanca, a member of parliament of the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), and also president of the Prefectural Council of Casablanca, repeated: "It belongs to me," reports H24info. According to the explanations of the accused, the amount of 10 million dirhams transferred to his account "comes from the sale of a player to a club in the Gulf". Naciri also had difficulty answering a question about his involvement in drug trafficking. Another accused would have claimed to have seen him attend a drug loading operation in a truck.

During his hearing, the president of the Oriental Region, Abdenbi Bioui, a member of the PAM political bureau, repeated that he had no connection with the facts he is accused of, nor with the drug trafficker called the Malian. Another PAMist is also involved in this case. His name: Belkassem Mir, a former PAM deputy in the first chamber. He was accused of having falsified a contract for a luxury villa in Oujda, in addition to having participated in drug trafficking. After the announcement of their appearance, these three members of the PAM were suspended by the political bureau of the tractor party.

In total, 25 individuals appear in this case before the Attorney General. Among them, businessmen, a fashion designer, business leaders, merchants, a notary, as well as civil servants and senior security officials. They must answer the accusations of international drug trafficking, money laundering, real estate spoliation, takeover of stolen vehicles, forgery and use of forgery, etc. Following the requisition of the Attorney General, the investigating judge placed them all in pre-trial detention. The hearings could continue until January 25, 2024. It is not excluded that new heads will fall within the framework of this case.