Moroccan Appeals Court Hands Heavy Sentences in “Sahara Escobar” Case Amid Renewed Scrutiny of Political Influence and Organized Crime
BY Dr. Hana Saada
CASABLANCA — Morocco’s Court of Appeal in Casablanca has delivered heavy prison sentences in the high-profile case widely known as the “Sahara Escobar” affair, concluding one of the country’s most closely watched criminal trials involving accusations of international drug trafficking, money laundering and abuse of political influence.
The Criminal Chamber sentenced Said Naciri, former president of the Casablanca Prefectural Council, former senior figure in the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM), and former president of Wydad Athletic Club, to 10 years in prison.
The court also imposed a 10-year prison sentence on Abdenbi Bioui, former president of the Oriental Regional Council and a senior member of the same political party.
Additional defendants, including security officials, notaries and local administrators, received varying prison terms after being prosecuted on charges that included participation in international drug trafficking, money laundering, forgery of official documents and abuse of office.
The case originated from statements and complaints filed by an international drug trafficker widely known as “El Mali,” who is currently imprisoned in El Jadida. According to court proceedings, he accused former political associates and businessmen of unlawfully taking control of his extensive financial and real estate assets during his incarceration. Investigators subsequently uncovered what prosecutors described as a sophisticated logistical network used to facilitate cross-border drug trafficking through land and maritime routes while benefiting from administrative influence and political connections.
The appellate rulings come against the backdrop of broader public debate surrounding governance, corruption and accountability in Morocco.
The verdicts coincided with renewed attention surrounding the OpenLux investigative project, which reported that prominent Moroccan political and business figures had established companies and financial holdings in Luxembourg and other jurisdictions, prompting renewed discussion over capital flows and financial transparency.
The rulings also followed recent domestic controversies involving the dispersal of a student protest outside Morocco’s Ministry of Higher Education, restrictions on a parliamentary meeting involving trade union representatives, and criticism from opposition lawmakers over what they described as increasing limitations on public freedoms and political expression.
Separately, attention has also focused on legal proceedings involving Morocco’s Consulate General in the Canary Islands, where reports have cited labor-related litigation and allegations of workplace misconduct.
While supporters of the judicial process have presented the “Sahara Escobar” case as evidence of efforts to combat high-level corruption and organized crime, some civil society activists argue that dismantling individual criminal networks should be accompanied by broader institutional reforms aimed at strengthening transparency, accountability and the separation of political power from economic influence.
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