Trial opens for ex-officials Naciri and Bioui in «Sahara Escobar» drug case on May 23

The trial of Said Naciri and Abdenbi Bioui, former presidents of Casablanca's Prefectural Council and the Oriental Regional Council respectively, will open on Thursday, May 23, at the Casablanca Court of Appeal.

The two PAM leaders will appear alongside 23 other defendants in the «Sahara Escobar» international drug trafficking case. Judicial sources, cited by Le360, reveal the charges against the defendants, with around twenty currently in pre-trial detention.

Abdenbi Bioui faces charges including forgery, extortion, participation in a drug trafficking conspiracy, and money laundering. Le360 reports that Said Naciri is accused of forgery, fraud, concealing stolen goods, attempted drug export, money laundering, influence peddling, facilitating drug use, and participating in a drug trafficking conspiracy.

Last year, the Casablanca Court of Appeal's investigating judge ordered the arrest of Naciri and Bioui for their alleged involvement in the «Sahara Escobar» network.