Moroccan traffickers shift from cannabis to cocaine
Spanish investigations reveal the expansion of drug trafficking networks connected to Morocco, where cannabis trade has shifted from mere illegal activity to a gateway for financing more complex operations involving cocaine and money laundering. These networks have adopted new methods to conceal their earnings by setting up fake companies, employing intermediaries, and investing in commercial sectors such as restaurants and entertainment, as well as relying on cryptocurrencies. Nineteen fake companies linked to Moroccan businessmen have been identified, and investigations confirm that the wealth generated from cannabis trafficking is used to fund cocaine operations, with over 21 tons of cocaine seized during operations throughout 2024. Additionally, 43 individuals have been arrested, and approximately one million euros in cash have been confiscated. The investigations also show that Moroccans are actively involved in establishing companies and facilitating smuggling activities, and that Moroccan government complicity contributes to the continuation of these activities, providing the networks with significant funding sources and enabling their expansion beyond borders.
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