
Ex-Raja President Boudrika Handed Over to Moroccan Authorities
Mohamed Boudrika, the former MP and president of Raja Club Athletic, has finally landed in Morocco after being extradited from Germany where he'd been holed up in custody since July 2024.
Escorted by Moroccan police who flew to Frankfurt to collect him, Boudrika touched down at Casablanca's Mohammed V International Airport last Thursday – bringing an end to his eight-month legal limbo in Europe.
The 42-year-old was nabbed at Hamburg Airport last summer under an international arrest warrant issued by Rabat. He's accused of a list of crime including issuing bounced checks, fraud, swindling, and document forgery.
In February, Germany's top court in Hamburg gave the green light for his extradition. The country's Federal Office of Justice then rubber-stamped the handover after ironing out the legal details.
Now back in Morocco, Boudrika was transferred to Ain Sebaa prison – commonly known as Oukacha where he will remain in custody pending further investigations and trial.
Attempts by his legal team to halt the extradition through Germany's Constitutional Court were ultimately unsuccessful. His case will now proceed under the Moroccan judicial system.
Boudrika, who previously served as an MP before being stripped of his parliamentary mandate by Morocco's Constitutional Court in January, has now been taken to Ain Sebaa prison – commonly known as Oukacha. He is expected to appear before an investigative judge at Casablanca's Court of Appeal to face the charges, chief among them issuing bad checks.
In a prior ruling, Boudrika was convicted in absentia by the Ain Sebaa court and handed a one-year suspended sentence along with a fine of MAD 232,500.
Further legal proceedings will now unfold on Moroccan soil. Tags: Mohamed BoudrikaRaja Athletic Club
Hashtags

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Morocco World
15 hours ago
- Morocco World
Taxis vs Ride-Sharing Apps: Morocco Pledges Reforms for Modern Transport System
Rabat – Interior Minister Abdelouafi Laftit has responded to concerns about the ongoing, delicate challenges prompted by constant clashes between taxis and ride-sharing apps in Morocco. Efforts are ongoing to develop a new system for taxis, Laftit announced on Monday, noting that studies are being conducted to modernize the transport sector. Laftit's made the statement in response to MPs'' questions during a parliament session at the House of Representatives, where the minister stressed that the current taxi system is 'no longer sustainable and must be developed to meet the challenges.' He pledged a modern approach with technologies to tackle the situation, noting that the goal of a similar project is to establish a system that responds to the requirements of the current phase and meets citizens' aspirations without harming those working in the sector. Laftit's remarks come amid an ongoing delicate situation marked by constant clashes between taxis and ride-sharing applications, especially In-Drive. Over the past months, several reports and viral videos have documented the clashes between taxi drivers and ride-sharing app drivers. One of the latest incidents took place in December last year. Videos and eyewitness accounts of the clash documented scenes of physical violence (notably an exchange of punches and kicks) and verbal abuse. The incident began when taxi drivers chased a ride-sharing driver through the streets of Rabat, converging reports indicated, adding that the chase started when the ride-sharing driver picked up a passenger at Agdal train station. Many similar incidents have taken place over the years, dividing opinions across Morocco. Some have called on the Moroccan government to set up clear regulations overseeing ride-sharing applications operating in Morocco. In May, minister Laftit warned taxi drivers, stressing that any attempt to stop drivers working for ride-sharing apps by individuals or groups outside the competent legal authorities should be punished by law. Laftit also acknowledged that using private cars to transport people through apps without licenses is illegal, pledging that security forces are actively working to handle the situation. In March, professional taxi unions asked Morocco's High Authority for Audiovisual Communication (HACA) to end broadcasting an in-Drive advertisement oin public television channels, like 2M. The unions argued that the decision to air promotional content for inDrive is a flagrant violation of national laws, especially since the ride-sharing application operates without proper licensing in Morocco. It remains to be seen whether Morocco's new project will tackle the ongoing saga between the two taxi drivers and ride-sharing applications, with the goal of appeasing both sides while above all ensuring the comfort of residents and citizens. Tags: indriveMoroccan Taxis


Morocco World
15 hours ago
- Morocco World
Economic Impact of Cannabis Legalization on Moroccan Agriculture
Morocco has long stood as one of the world's top producers of hashish, with an estimated 47,000 hectares dedicated to cannabis cultivation in 2019, according to the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime. For decades, the crop thrived in legal limbo, especially across the northern Rif Mountains. Now, with sweeping reforms under Law 13-21, cannabis is entering a new phase – regulated, taxed, and poised to transform rural Moroccan agriculture. A New Legal Framework In 2021, Morocco passed Law 13-21, legalizing cannabis for medical, cosmetic, and industrial purposes. The move sought to regulate a long-standing black market, protect farmers, and boost the national economy through exports. By 2024, the National Agency for the Regulation of Activities Related to Cannabis (ANRAC) had issued 2,905 licenses for legal cultivation , processing, and marketing, primarily in the provinces of Taounate, Al Hoceima, and Chefchaouen. This regulatory shift not only legitimizes an industry that was once the backbone of informal rural economies – it provides farmers with legal protections, direct access to markets, and a path to sustainable income. Beyond Decriminalization: An Economic Engine For decades, tens of thousands of Moroccan farmers relied on cannabis cultivation as their primary source of income. Yet in the absence of regulation, they were left at the mercy of smugglers and middlemen. Prices fluctuated wildly, and farmers risked arrest or land seizures. Now, with the introduction of legal frameworks, the government has turned cannabis into a strategic crop. According to the Moroccan Ministry of Interior, the legal sector has the potential to generate over $1 billion annually in export revenue, once fully operational. The first legal cannabis processing plant opened in Taounate in late 2023, representing a turning point for the domestic cannabis economy. The facility is expected to create hundreds of direct and indirect jobs and provide a consistent supply chain for local cooperatives and international buyers. Job Creation and Rural Renewal Job creation is one of the most immediate effects of legalization. Not only are farmers now formally employed through licensed cooperatives, but auxiliary roles have emerged in logistics, testing, packaging, and compliance. According to ANRAC, each licensed hectare supports approximately 10 jobs – ranging from cultivation to quality control. This influx of legal work has begun to reduce the exodus of young people from rural regions, who often left to seek employment in urban centers or abroad. With proper investment in infrastructure and education, cannabis could anchor broader rural development in Morocco's underserved regions. Global Trade and Moroccan Exports Morocco exported its first legal cannabis shipment to Switzerland in 2024 , marking its entry into the international medical cannabis market. This export followed strict EU pharmaceutical standards, a testament to the country's commitment to compliance and quality assurance. As more countries liberalize cannabis laws, Morocco is strategically positioned to become a major supplier – particularly to Europe, where proximity and climate advantages play in its favour. The demand for organic, high-THC, and terpene-rich cannabis strains could open new avenues for Moroccan exporters. Some seed companies, such as Herbies Seeds , have already taken note of Morocco's favorable climate and genetics, often referencing the country's landrace strains in their catalogues for growers looking for heritage and stability in cultivation. Barriers to Entry and Remaining Challenges Despite the promising numbers, not all farmers have been able to make the transition. Some critics argue that license distribution has been slow and bureaucratic, making it difficult for smaller, poorer farmers to join the legal market. There are also concerns about corporate monopolies edging out traditional growers and shifting control away from rural communities. Moreover, environmental risks loom. Large-scale cannabis cultivation, if not managed properly, could worsen water scarcity issues, especially in mountainous regions already vulnerable to climate stress. Looking Ahead Legal cannabis is more than just a new industry for Morocco – it's a test case for rural revitalization through agricultural reform. If the legal framework remains inclusive, transparent, and environmentally conscious, Morocco could emerge not only as a cannabis powerhouse, but also as a model for sustainable development in post-prohibition economies. For now, the early data paints a hopeful picture. Farmers have begun to shed the stigma and insecurity of the black market. Investment is flowing. Jobs are returning. And Morocco is no longer just a global supplier of hashish – it is becoming a legitimate player in the fast-growing global cannabis economy. Tags: Cannabiscannabis agricultureeconomy cannabisMorocco cannabis


Ya Biladi
15 hours ago
- Ya Biladi
After CNSS, Algerian hacking group Jabaroot strikes again, targeting Morocco's land registry
For the past two months, users of the National Agency for Land Conservation, Cadastre, and Cartography (ANCFCC) platform have been unable to download cadastral documents online. While this restriction was initially seen as a heightened security measure following the recent CNSS hacking incident, it now appears to be linked to a new massive data leak. The same hacking group behind the previous breach—Jabaroot, which claims Algerian origins—has posted a link on a dark web forum revealing: - Over 10,000 property certificates in PDF format, taken from a database said to contain more than 10 million records. Around 20,000 assorted documents—including notarial deeds, ID cards, passports, civil status records, and bank statements—representing a sample from a collection of more than 4 million files, totaling 4 terabytes of data. - Documents marked as «VIP», allegedly containing sensitive information on prominent Moroccan figures such as Mohammed Yassine Mansouri, head of foreign intelligence; Nasser Bourita, Minister of Foreign Affairs; and Fouzi Lekjaa, Delegate Minister for the Budget. A Hack with Geopolitical Implications According to the message posted alongside the leak—which forum admins have since removed—the attack is meant to retaliate against what the hackers call «anti-Algerian propaganda recently spread by certain Moroccan media». These outlets reported that Paris was considering freezing the assets of high-ranking Algerian officials—a claim the hackers dismiss as false—and accuse Rabat of interfering in a bilateral issue between France and Algeria. But this explanation seems like a smokescreen. Why target Moroccan officials when the threat of asset freezes comes from Paris? The hack looks more like a diversion by Algiers, coming right after a diplomatic setback : The United Kingdom, the third permanent member of the UN Security Council, officially backed Morocco's autonomy plan for the Sahara. This major political shift drew a sharp and confused response from Algeria's Foreign Minister, Mohamed Attaf. CNSS hack —also linked to Jabaroot—which compromised the personal data of thousands of insured individuals, including their salary information.