Morocco Seeks Extradition of Notorious Drug Lord ’El Sardina’ from Spain

Rachid "El Sardina" Gdari is accused of drug trafficking, document forgery, voluntary manslaughter, membership in a criminal organization, threats, kidnapping, illegal possession of weapons, violent theft and a series of other offenses. The Tetouan Court of Appeal in Morocco is requesting his extradition to prosecute him for having facilitated the illegal entry of a Spaniard into Moroccan territory. He faces a sentence of three years in prison, according to La Vanguardia.

"El Sardina" was first arrested in Cornellà (Barcelona) for stealing a car, when he was just over 20 years old. Since then, he has been listed by the police for several crimes committed in Madrid and Torremolinos (Malaga). With his teams, he proceeds to steal drugs by posing as police officers. He has sophisticated means, even more modern than those used by the state security forces.

In 2016, he was arrested and accused of being the leader of a criminal group active in Catalonia and Andalusia. The National Court had ordered his pre-trial detention. On November 29, 2021, he was arrested again by the Mossos d’Esquadra in L’Hospitalet de Llobregat (Barcelona). Last February, his brother, Mohamed Gdari, was shot dead in broad daylight in Badia del Vallès (Barcelona).