All shots were allowed. The “Mocro Maffia” loses one of its masterminds, who is arrested in Spain after five years of persecution by the authorities. The drug lord was a “priority target” of the authorities and a pillar of the vast European network.
Karim Bouyakhrichan rose to the top of a criminal organization clan after the death of his brother Samir in 2014. The latter, nicknamed “Scarface,” was killed near Marbella in southern Spain, a murder that led to a real “reorganization of the clans.” It was this turmoil that, as one thing led to another, led the authorities to his brother.
Behind his role as a drug lord, an enigmatic and discreet gang leader who never left his security detail, there was an experienced and powerful criminal. He traveled from one country to another and was very careful when communicating… Karim Bouyakhrichan orchestrated a real “large-scale drug trafficking operation.”
The end justified the means
Cocaine trafficking, money laundering of six million euros… The Mocro Maffia is a “solid infrastructure”, moreover “maritime and commercial”, that operates from Morocco to the United Arab Emirates and the Netherlands to the Dominican Republic. It is responsible for a third of cocaine imports into Europe.
The stigma of an important network, the Mocro Maffia, uses ruthless methods. Beyond the traffic, the motto is simple: “He who speaks will die.” In a recent “Ligne rouge” program dedicated to the organization, our colleagues at BFMTV report that the channel has, on several occasions, organized the murder of people who revealed information about it.
Proof of this is the story of Martin Kok, a journalist who was the victim of two assassination attempts before being fatally shot in his car. Not to mention the death threats against politicians or even the attempted kidnapping of the Dutch Minister of Justice. The Mocro Mafia brought mafia habits and customs from South America to Europe and increased violence in drug trafficking-related crimes.
In 2022, our colleagues at Le Monde reported, 18-year-old Crown Princess Amalia had to stop attending university to attend her courses due to threats of kidnapping or attack. At the same time, Prime Minister Mark Rutte had to interrupt his cycling tours, particularly because of the alleged observation of vantage points around his house.
Refugee in Spain
During the arrest, authorities seized a total of 172 properties belonging to the organization. Its value is estimated at 50 million euros. Karim Bouyakhrichan was taken into custody along with five other members of the network.
Many European traffickers find refuge in Spain, especially in seaside resorts. Clashes between rival gangs continue to occur, as happened last May when two Frenchmen from Marseille were murdered in Catalonia.