Four Antwerp Drug Lords Arrested in Morocco; ‘Black’ Still Faces 34-Year Sentence

Moroccan authorities arrested 11 wanted drug criminals in a coordinated overnight operation in Marrakech on Monday, June 8, 2026, including four Belgian-Moroccan nationals from Antwerp. The most significant capture was Abdelilah El Messaoudi, alias “Black” — one of the most wanted figures in the Antwerp cocaine underworld — who still faces approximately 34 years of remaining prison sentences in Belgium, according to Het Laatste Nieuws.

The Arrest Operation

The Moroccan police raided approximately 20 locations across Marrakech in a single night, targeting drug criminals wanted by Belgium, the Netherlands, and France — primarily those holding dual nationality. El Messaoudi was arrested at the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel in a suburb of Marrakech, where he had been living openly, believing Morocco’s no-extradition policy would protect him.

De Morgen reported that the Moroccan authorities want to send a clear signal that Morocco is “not a safe haven” for fugitive criminals. The presence of Belgian, Dutch, and French-Moroccan criminals in cities like Marrakech and Tangier had led to violent incidents, including fights and kidnappings, prompting Moroccan authorities to take decisive action.

The Fugitives Captured

Alongside El Messaoudi, three other Belgian-Moroccan criminals were arrested:

• Moraad El Kasmi (“Glamourboy”): Convicted alongside Black in the “Makreel” drug trafficking case, El Kasmi fled after his restaurant “Mr. Noodles” in Antwerp’s Abdijstraat was shot at multiple times. He had a brief film career, appearing in director Adil El Arbi’s first short film and guest roles in the TV series “Crimiclowns.”
• Mohamed B. (“Kikker” / “Frog”): From Hoboken, Antwerp, arrested in the same operation.
• A fourth unnamed Belgian-Moroccan criminal was also taken into custody.

A Trail of Convictions

El Messaoudi has been on the run for years. He was first sentenced to 8 years in prison in 2020 in the “Makreel” drug case — by which time he had already fled to Dubai. Following the landmark crack on the encrypted communications platform Sky ECC, which Belgian and Dutch authorities infiltrated in 2021, El Messaoudi was convicted to an additional 14 years in June 2023 and ordered to forfeit €43 million in criminal proceeds. Multiple other sentences have brought his total remaining prison time to approximately 34 years.

According to Crimesite, El Messaoudi was arrested in Istanbul, Turkey, in February 2023 at Belgium’s request. Turkish courts twice approved his extradition, but he was released under conditions with an electronic ankle monitor. He subsequently fled Turkey and resurfaced in Morocco, where he believed he would be safe.

Legal Implications

Morocco does not extradite its own nationals. Instead, Belgian authorities have translated and transferred the case files against El Messaoudi to Morocco, where he will face a new trial and serve any resulting sentence in Moroccan prisons. Simply transferring the existing Belgian sentences is legally not possible under Moroccan law.

This legal reality means El Messaoudi’s 34-year sentence is not automatically enforceable. Moroccan courts will conduct their own proceedings, though the authorities appear committed to ensuring meaningful consequences.

Broader Significance

The operation represents a significant shift in Morocco’s approach to dual-national criminals. Historically, the country’s refusal to extradite its nationals created a de facto safe haven for fugitives. However, the growing presence of these criminals — and the violence they brought with them — has prompted a policy change.

The arrests also mark a major blow to drug trafficking networks operating between Belgium and North Africa. Antwerp’s port is one of Europe’s primary entry points for cocaine from South America, and the city has seen a surge in drug-related violence linked to rival trafficking networks.

What’s Next

Moroccan authorities are still searching for two other major Antwerp-based kingpins who were not found at their known addresses. France is also pushing for the arrest of Hoesny Ajaray, alias “Hitler,” a drug boss of Moroccan origin who lived in Deurne (Antwerp), convicted to 15 years in Belgium and wanted by France for kidnapping and torture as part of the “Supercartel.” Whether he was among those arrested remains unclear.

The trials in Morocco are expected to proceed in the coming months, with Belgian authorities closely monitoring the outcomes.