Over 800 Spaniards Imprisoned Abroad, Many for Drug Offenses in Morocco

Spanish prisoners detained in foreign prisons numbered 777 (684 men and 93 women) as of November 1, 2021, according to data from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Most of them, with no criminal record, are serving sentences for drug trafficking in France and Germany, but also in Morocco (78) and Peru (24).

As of January 1, 2022, there were 844, 90% of whom were men, according to data from the +34 Foundation, an organization that tries to help these Spaniards deprived of liberty abroad. The General Council of Spanish Lawyers also supports these prisoners abroad by ensuring respect for their fundamental rights and ensuring that they serve the majority of their sentence in Spain.

Detention conditions in European prisons are similar to those in Spain, unlike in Africa and Central or South America where respect for human rights leaves something to be desired, explains Javier Casado, president of the +34 Foundation. According to Regulation AUC/154/2022 of February 21, the government aid for inmates in foreign prisons is a maximum of 120 euros per month and a maximum of 200 euros per month if they have dependent children.

Some autonomous communities provide grants in their budgets for projects of organizations to help these citizens abroad. This is the case of the Andalusia Council (35,000 euros), the Community of Madrid (50,000 euros), or the government delegation of Navarre (15,000 euros).