Dutch Investigation Puts Morocco’s Royal Wealth and Cannabis Economy Under Renewed Spotlight
Based on reporting published by Dutch newspaper AD and material cited from French journalist Thierry Oberlé’s book Mohammed VI: The Enigma
By Dr. Hana Saada
ALGIERS — A lengthy investigative report published by the Dutch newspaper AD has reignited debate over the structure of Morocco’s political economy, examining the wealth of King Mohammed VI and exploring claims of links between the kingdom’s cannabis sector and influential circles within the Moroccan establishment.
Written by Dutch journalist Frank Renout, the investigation draws extensively on findings presented in Mohammed VI: The Enigma, a book by French journalist and author Thierry Oberlé. According to the report, questions surrounding the origins of the Moroccan monarch’s estimated fortune—placed at roughly $10 billion—remain central to broader discussions about wealth concentration and governance in the kingdom.
The investigation presents the argument that a significant portion of Morocco’s economic landscape, particularly in the country’s northern regions, remains closely connected to cannabis cultivation and trafficking networks. Citing Oberlé, the report contends that the scale of the industry extends far beyond local agricultural activity and intersects with structures of power at the highest levels of the state.
According to figures highlighted in the Dutch report, more than half of the economy in parts of northern Morocco depends directly or indirectly on cannabis cultivation and related activities. The article further states that over one million Moroccans are linked to the sector through production, transportation, processing or associated commercial networks.
The report estimates that more than 50,000 hectares remain dedicated to cannabis cultivation and suggests that the industry generates revenues approaching €10 billion annually. It argues that these financial flows have contributed to the emergence of powerful economic networks whose influence extends beyond agriculture into broader political and commercial spheres.
Framing the issue as a structural feature of Morocco’s economy rather than a peripheral phenomenon, the investigation questions the contrast between persistent social and economic challenges faced by many Moroccan citizens and the concentration of wealth among elite circles. It presents this disparity as a recurring theme in public debate over development, governance and resource distribution.
The Dutch newspaper also revisits recent Moroccan policies concerning the regulation and legalisation of cannabis-related activities. The report interprets these measures as part of a broader process aimed at institutionalising and formalising an industry that has historically operated in a legal grey zone, while critics cited in the article argue that the reforms primarily benefit established economic interests.
More broadly, the investigation challenges official narratives that portray Morocco as a model of economic modernisation and stability. It argues that international discussions about the kingdom’s development trajectory cannot be separated from questions surrounding wealth concentration, patronage networks and the economic significance of the cannabis trade.
The publication has attracted attention because it originates from a major European media outlet and relies on extensive documentation, interviews and previously published research. In doing so, it adds a new dimension to ongoing debates regarding transparency, governance and economic accountability in Morocco.
For the authors and sources cited in the investigation, the issues raised extend beyond the question of royal wealth itself. They are presented as part of a wider examination of how political authority, economic power and illicit-market dynamics intersect within the contemporary Moroccan state.
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