At the end of August, a Moroccan-Dutch dual national was handed an eight-year prison sentence in Morocco and fined nearly 87,200 dirhams (€8,000). Wanted under an international arrest warrant issued by The Hague, he was convicted of money laundering, involvement in a criminal organization, and drug trafficking and possession, including cocaine and cannabis. After fleeing to Morocco to dodge a lighter six-year sentence imposed in the Netherlands in 2022, the fugitive found no sanctuary.
Due to his dual nationality, the accused cannot be extradited from Morocco. However, choosing between enforcing the original sentence or pursuing a conviction locally, Rabat and The Hague have intensified their cooperation to address a gap that has stalled numerous cases, especially those linked to the «Mocro Maffia». Last June, the Dutch Parliament’s lower house approved a mutual legal assistance treaty aiming to resolve this issue, which had previously been endorsed by Morocco.
Signed in 2023, this agreement facilitates smoother collaboration, allowing for the transfer of individuals wanted for crimes punishable by at least one year in prison in both nations, including drug trafficking and money laundering. To circumvent the impossibility of extraditing dual-national fugitives, the treaty permits Morocco to take over cases identified by the Netherlands if suspects are apprehended there.
In this instance, the accused encountered his Dutch legal issues once again as Morocco assumed responsibility for his case and retried him at The Hague’s request. Discussing the matter on Friday, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service confirmed that bilateral judicial cooperation has «intensified» following the enhancement of pertinent provisions.