Moroccan Prison Officials Deny Assassination Attempts on Detained Drug Kingpin

"The prisoner in question has never been the victim of an attempted murder or assault by anyone, and all allegations in this regard are unfounded," states the General Delegation for Prison Administration and Reintegration (DGAPR) in a press release. The Malian Lhaj Ahmed Benbrahim "has never filed a complaint with the administration of the establishment regarding any alleged attempted murder or assault, knowing that he enjoys all the rights legally granted to him, like the other inmates of the establishment," adds the same source. The DGAPR also assured that it "takes all necessary preventive security measures to preserve the safety of prisoners, as part of its missions related to security."

Incarcerated at the El Jadida prison since 2019, Lhaj Ahmed Benbrahim has recently been transferred to the local Ain Sebaa prison. This man, whose mother is of Moroccan origin, has brought down 25 individuals in his fall, including Said Naciri, president of Wydad Casablanca, a member of parliament for the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), and president of the Casablanca Prefectural Council, the president of the Oriental region, Abdenbi Bioui, a member of the PAM political bureau, and Belkassem Mir, a former PAM deputy in the first chamber. Accused of international drug trafficking, money laundering, real estate spoliation, takeover of stolen vehicles, forgery and use of forgery, etc., they have been placed in pre-trial detention.