Morocco in the Spotlight: Unmasking the International Drug Trafficking Network
BY: Hana Saada
ALGIERS- Morocco has once again been implicated in a global report highlighting its direct involvement in drug trafficking. Already accused last year, Morocco continues to face accusations of facilitating this illicit trade, drawing concern from the United States and the United Nations over the repercussions on global health and economies.
The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) revealed that “established supply chains initially used for trafficking cannabis resin from Morocco to the rest of Europe, including the Netherlands via Spain, may have been adapted to also facilitate the trafficking of cocaine destined for Dutch distributors.”
In addition to land routes, the report emphasizes the growing significance of maritime traffic, particularly in the case of Morocco since 2016. The UNODC estimates that substantial quantities of cocaine are now directly arriving in Morocco by sea, rather than via transshipment from West Africa. Globally, the UNODC reports that over 296 million people used drugs in 2021, marking a 23% increase over the past decade, with cannabis remaining the most widely used drug.
Within this context, the UNODC’s report highlights that Morocco was the primary source of recorded cannabis resin trafficking in the Sahel region in 2021. This resin is often destined for other North African countries, as well as some Middle Eastern and European nations. The UNODC’s World Drug Report 2022 previously identified Morocco as the leading producer and exporter of cannabis resin, solidifying its position as the world’s primary supplier. The US State Department has also recently expressed concerns about the extent of money laundering in Morocco through cannabis trafficking and the transit of cocaine bound for Europe.
United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has called on the global community to intensify its efforts to combat drug abuse and trafficking. His statement was issued in commemoration of the International Day against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking, observed on June 26 each year.
Guterres highlighted that tens of millions of people suffer from drug use disorders, yet fewer than a fifth of them receive treatment. He emphasized that individuals who use drugs are victims in two ways: first, of the harmful effects of the drugs themselves, and second, of the stigma and discrimination associated with drug use.
The Secretary-General stressed the importance of developing prevention programs, therapeutic care services, and healthcare facilities to support affected individuals. According to experts, the “cheap, quick, and easy production” of synthetic drugs has dramatically transformed markets worldwide, with the UN report underlining the “disastrous consequences” of this trend.
The international community faces an urgent call to address the complex challenges posed by drug abuse and trafficking, with Morocco’s involvement highlighting the need for concerted efforts to combat this global threat.
