«Escobar of the Sahara» : Unveiling new revelations and controversies

Ya Biladi

15-02-2025

The unfolding saga of the «Escobar of the Sahara» is shedding light on a sprawling drug trafficking network that allegedly involves high-profile figures in Morocco. Notable among the accused are Saïd Naciri, the former president of football club Wydad of Casablanca, and Abdenbi Bioui, a former parliamentarian from the Authenticity and Modernity Party (PAM).
In a recent session at the Casablanca Court of Appeal, Saïd Naciri staunchly denied the accusations against him. He asserted his innocence, claiming no ties to drug trafficking activities. Naciri challenged the legitimacy of the evidence, particularly phone recordings that his defense argues do not implicate him in dealings with Ahmed Benbrahim, infamously known as the «Escobar of the Sahara».
According to Medias24, investigations have uncovered alleged complicity among armed forces at the Moroccan-Algerian border. Soldiers are suspected of accepting bribes to facilitate the smuggling of over 200 tons of cannabis into Algeria, benefiting Abdenbi Bioui over nearly two decades. Wiretaps have reportedly revealed that surveillance cameras were manipulated to enable these illegal activities.
The case is further complicated by accusations of orchestrated false testimonies intended to sway judicial proceedings. One defendant confessed to delivering false testimony at Bioui's behest, aiming to frame his ex-wife's brother in a fabricated case, thereby pressuring her to drop a property extortion complaint.
Naciri's legal team has called for several prominent individuals to testify, including Hicham Aït Menna, the current president of the WAC, Ahmad Ahmad, the former president of the African Football Confederation, and singer Latifa Raâfat, who is Ahmed Benbrahim's ex-wife. These testimonies are sought to elucidate matters such as the purchase of a villa and the alleged funding of election campaigns.