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Prominent Sports Leader and Politician Detained in Major Drug Trafficking Investigation

Friday 22 December 2023 - 12:10

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A bombshell investigation has ensnared two powerful figures from the worlds of sports and politics in Morocco. Said Naciri, president of the storied Wydad Casablanca football club, and Abdennabi Biioui, head of the influential Oriental Regional Council, have found themselves at the center of a widening probe into international drug trafficking.

Both Naciri and Biioui are currently being held at the Oukacha Prison in Casablanca, facing a laundry list of serious charges handed down by prosecutors. In addition to drug offenses, the duo is accused of money laundering, forgery, abuse of power, and property seizure. Naciri, who also sits as a parliamentarian for the ruling PAM party, allegedly unlawfully took control of assets belonging to an infamous Malian drug kingpin known simply as "the Malian."

Some 25 individuals appeared before a judge yesterday in the expansive investigation. All suspects, including the high-profile Naciri and Biioui, were ordered to pre-trial detention. Sources say the case involves an illicit network spanning multiple countries.

The scandal has sent shockwaves through Morocco's political establishment and soccer fandom. As president of Wydad Casablanca, one of the most storied clubs in the country, Naciri wields immense influence in sports. Biioui also holds significant power as head of the extensive Oriental Regional Council.

While authorities have shared few details publicly, the intricacies of the case promise to unfold in court as the accused begin mounting their defense in coming proceedings. Moroccans across the nation now eagerly await to see the full scope of this bombshell investigation that has ensnared two leaders once thought untouchable.