From Political Assassinations to High-Level Bribes, the “Escobar of the Desert” Scandal Exposes the Nexus Between the Makhzen and the Drug Cartels

BY: Dr. Hana Saada

Blood, Drugs, and Corruption: How the Moroccan State Became a Narco-Regime

Algiers, Algeria | February 25th, 2025 — A dark reality has emerged from the shadows of Morocco’s political establishment—one stained with blood, corruption, and an unrelenting thirst for power. The so-called Escobar of the Desert scandal has exposed the deep entanglement between the Moroccan regime and a sprawling drug empire, where cocaine flows as freely as bribes, and silence is enforced through fear, disappearances, and brutal assassinations.

 

For years, Morocco has been the world’s largest producer and exporter of cannabis, but recent investigations reveal that its role in the global narcotics trade extends far beyond that. The country has become a central hub for cocaine trafficking, with the highest levels of government implicated in ensuring its uninterrupted flow. The case of Escobar of the Desert—a vast and sophisticated drug network operating from Morocco—has ripped through the illusion of governance, exposing a state where law enforcement, politicians, and criminal syndicates are indistinguishable from one another.

Moroccan media sources report that at least 23 senior officials within the Makhzen—the monarchy’s deep-state apparatus—are directly involved in the network’s operations. High-profile figures such as Said Naciri, former president of Wydad Casablanca, and ex-parliamentarian Abdel Nabi Baiwi were convicted in December 2023 for their roles in smuggling vast quantities of cocaine and heroin. Their crimes did not stop at drug trafficking; they used their influence to bribe top state officials, securing their protection in what has been revealed as a mafia-like structure that reaches the highest echelons of Moroccan power.

But uncovering the truth has come at a deadly price. Investigators, witnesses, and journalists who have dared to expose the scandal have faced relentless intimidation. Some have received death threats; others have vanished without a trace. The most chilling incident occurred when the mutilated body of a key investigator was found wrapped in a Moroccan flag, accompanied by a blood-written warning: “This is only the beginning.”

Reports indicate that a powerful and invisible hand is obstructing justice, preventing the full extent of the scandal from surfacing. The media outlet that first broke the story in an article titled Escobar of the Desert: The Endless Nightmare has documented a series of sinister events—witnesses silenced, evidence destroyed, and journalists warned to abandon their pursuit of the truth. Those who refused to comply have disappeared under mysterious circumstances.

What was initially a drug trafficking case has morphed into a political earthquake, shaking the very foundations of Morocco’s ruling elite. As the investigation deepens, a shocking revelation has emerged: a secret Black Dossier containing the names of high-profile international figures—including European officials and multinational corporations—who may have been complicit in the drug empire’s operations. If confirmed, this would prove that Morocco has not only been a trafficking hub but a crucial player in the global narcotics supply chain.

The Moroccan street is seething with anger. Protests are beginning to take shape, with citizens demanding accountability at the highest levels. The public’s faith in its leaders has been shattered, and political parties linked to the scandal are rapidly losing credibility. What was once dismissed as whispers of corruption has now been exposed as a systemic rot that threatens to consume the entire state.

As the walls close in, Morocco stands on the brink of a national reckoning. The Makhzen has long thrived on secrecy and impunity, but the Escobar of the Desert affair has laid bare the horrifying reality: the Moroccan state has become a narco-regime, where power is preserved through bloodshed, deception, and a ruthless grip on the nation’s illicit drug trade.

Translated from:

https://www.lexpressiondz.com/nationale/la-drogue-fait-couler-le-sang-au-maroc-391211

 

 

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