The necessity for international security and judicial cooperation has become increasingly apparent in the face of transnational crime. However, the effectiveness of such collaborations is heavily reliant on a significant level of trust among nations and a strict adherence to bilateral agreements and legal protocols. Unfortunately, the transformation of sensitive security issues into fodder for leaks and media exploitation complicates this cooperation considerably.
This was recently exemplified by a French media campaign that relied on an internal document allegedly from the National Police's division responsible for tracking fugitives from justice. This document was used to promote a distorted narrative claiming that Morocco has become a 'haven' for individuals evading justice.
Debunking these claims does not necessitate engaging in fruitless debates; rather, it requires referring to rigorous statistical data and principles of international law to understand the vast gap between institutional security operations and the sensationalized reporting that thrives on fragmented data devoid of essential analytical context.
The Myth of the 'Safe Haven'
The attempt by some in France to propagate the idea that Moroccan authorities are lenient towards internationally wanted individuals collapses when one considers the extensive daily efforts made by Moroccan security agencies in response to Interpol's Red Notices. Statistical data documented since early 2020, as revealed by an official security source, illustrates a substantial effort that cannot be overlooked.
During this period, approximately 4,568 international search warrants issued by French judicial authorities were processed and integrated into Morocco’s national databases in an automated and timely manner. This figure reflects a heightened state of vigilance and a strategic response that places the tracking of fugitives at the forefront of priorities.
To further illustrate the on-ground effectiveness, the same security source highlighted the outcomes of arrests, confirming that the General Directorate of National Security and the General Directorate of Territorial Surveillance managed to apprehend 124 individuals who were subjects of French search warrants. Conversely, in a stark display of imbalance favoring Moroccan efforts, French authorities apprehended only 47 individuals wanted by Moroccan justice.
Regarding extraditions, Morocco has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to bilateral agreements, having extradited 101 individuals to French authorities, while only receiving 16 detainees from Paris. These bare statistics leave no room for doubt and fundamentally dismantle the 'haven' hypothesis. They unequivocally indicate that the Kingdom of Morocco plays a pioneering and advanced role in combating organized crime in comparison to its partners.
The actual flaw lies not in the absence of cooperation but in the attempts by certain French parties to shift the discourse from judicial corridors and established institutional security channels to the pages of newspapers and television screens. The bilateral cooperation concerning the arrest of wanted persons is governed by international legal protocols and clearly defined judicial channels, which cannot be managed through the leaking of incomplete and contextually devoid information to the media.
Leaking internal documents from the French judicial police and stripping them of their legal context reflects one of two possibilities: either a lack of understanding of international cooperation mechanisms or a deliberate effort to undermine the contributions of a strategic partner. Security operations demand confidentiality, trust, and respect for procedures, not the fabrication of media bubbles that base their conclusions on a profound ignorance of the rules governing bilateral cooperation.
The Crisis of Incomplete Files
Among the most notable fallacies propagated by French outlets is the narrative concerning the non-extradition of certain detainees. Herein lies the importance of legal culture, which appears to have been deliberately omitted by the French media. As is internationally recognized, Moroccan legislation prohibits the extradition of Moroccan citizens or dual nationals to foreign countries, a sovereign principle upheld by most democracies, including France itself.
However, this prohibition does not equate to impunity; rather, it necessitates the application of the 'official complaint process,' which means that these detainees are tried in Moroccan courts based on the files submitted by the requesting state.
A puzzling paradox emerges: according to the security source contacted by the newspaper, out of 53 individuals with Moroccan nationality apprehended based on French warrants, only 33 official complaint files were sent by the French judicial authorities. This indicates that the obstacle to prosecuting several wanted individuals is not the 'laxity' of Moroccan authorities, but rather the administrative sluggishness or delay on the part of France in forwarding the files and official complaints within the stipulated timelines as per bilateral agreements.
These individuals were indeed prosecuted in Morocco immediately upon receiving the 33 files, confirming that the responsibility lay with France, and that the delays originated from the entity that is now voicing complaints through its media channels.
Morocco’s commitment to combatting transcontinental crime is not a seasonal endeavor awaiting evaluations from overseas media. The continuity of precise security operations targeting internationally wanted individuals on national soil underscores this dynamic. Previous successful security campaigns, particularly in major cities like Marrakech and Casablanca, have resulted in the apprehension of numerous individuals based on Red Notices relating to international drug trafficking, money laundering, and mafia networks.
These arrests, conducted with high-level coordination, affirm that Moroccan security forces consistently patrol national territory, ensuring that Moroccan cities do not become transit or settlement points for any international criminal activities.
It is evident that the treatment of statistical data by the French media has been characterized by selectivity, generalization, and a lack of sound professional foundations. Morocco, which has demonstrated through documented figures and stringent field interventions an undeniable commitment to pursuing fugitives from justice, refuses to be drawn into cheap media contestations.
Successful security cooperation requires respect for national laws of the involved states, expediting judicial procedures related to the dispatch of extradition files and official complaints, and avoiding the arrogance of leaking internal documents to cover up internal administrative shortcomings. Morocco will remain a reliable partner in the equation of international security, but it is a partnership that necessitates engagement through official and institutional channels, far removed from the noise of the press and its hasty conclusions.
As reported by hespress.com.
