In a surprising turn of events, three notorious figures from the Antwerp drug trafficking scene, arrested in June while in Marrakech, were unexpectedly brought before a Moroccan court on Thursday morning. Their detention and subsequent trial occurred with no prior announcement, leading to swift judicial proceedings that concluded mere hours later, resulting in prison sentences of 5, 8, and 9 years, as reported by Belgian media.
The three individuals—Abdelilah "Black" El Messaoudi, 42, Moraad "Glamourboy" El Kasmi, 35, and Mohamed "Kikker" Benhaddou, 47—appeared caught off guard by the rapid developments. They were escorted from their prison to the court alongside several French and Dutch nationals. According to the Belgian daily Het Nieuwsblad, no official information had been shared regarding this sudden hearing, indicating that the case being adjudicated in Morocco is separate from the sentences previously issued against these men in Belgium, as well as from the international warrants that had been filed against them.
The charges in Morocco relate to activities conducted within the kingdom, particularly suspicions of money laundering linked to criminal enterprises and affiliations with organized crime. The verdict was delivered on the same day: Abdelilah El Messaoudi received a 5-year sentence, Mohamed Benhaddou was sentenced to 8 years, and Moraad El Kasmi, the former actor caught in the Marrakech bust, was handed a 9-year sentence.
Legal Complications Await in Belgium
The expedited nature of the trial has left the defendants' Belgian lawyers astounded. Frank Scheerlinck, representing one of the convicted, pointed out that the defendants were taken to court in the morning, the pleas were presented during the day, and the judgment was swiftly rendered by evening. He raised concerns regarding the defendants' rights and the rationale behind such prompt judicial decisions. Family members of the accused have indicated that an appeal may be on the horizon.
The complexity of their legal situation is compounded by the severe sentences they are already facing in Belgium. Abdelilah "Black" El Messaoudi is currently serving a staggering 34 years in prison for cocaine trafficking. After a stint in detention in Turkey, he contested his extradition to Belgium but managed to return to Morocco. Moraad "Glamourboy" El Kasmi has received a 52-month sentence related to the "Makreel" case, while Mohamed "Kikker" Benhaddou still has over seven years to serve in Belgium for drug trafficking and money laundering, notably linked to his previous brewery business.
Their arrest in Morocco marked a significant turning point as, like many dual nationals wanted in Europe, they believed they could evade extradition due to Morocco’s stance on not extraditing its own citizens. However, enhanced judicial cooperation between Morocco, Belgium, and the Netherlands now facilitates the transfer of European cases to Moroccan authorities for local prosecution. This collaboration is paving the way for more stringent actions against international drug traffickers operating within Moroccan borders.
The trial in Marrakech does not yet resolve their Belgian convictions, as a new hearing may be scheduled for September to address the fate of the cases forwarded by Belgium. It is possible that Morocco will need to revisit some legal proceedings or evaluate how to enact the sentences pronounced abroad.
As reported by bladi.net.
