Dutch House of Representatives approves extradition treaty With Morocco

The Dutch House of Representatives has approved an extradition treaty with Morocco, paving the way for easier transfers of suspects and convicted criminals between the two countries.

The agreement, signed in 2023, allows extradition requests for offenses punishable by at least one year in prison under the laws of both countries, including violent crimes and money laundering. Only the Party for the Animals and Denk voted against the treaty.

Morocco does not generally extradite its own citizens, including dual nationals. However, under the agreement, cases involving Moroccan nationals can be transferred to Moroccan prosecutors for local prosecution if extradition is refused, NOS reported.

Dutch Justice Minister David van Weel said the treaty would deprive criminals of a potential «safe haven», while lawmakers pointed to suspects linked to organized crime networks operating between the Netherlands and Morocco.

The treaty has already been approved by the Moroccan parliament. It now awaits final approval by the Dutch Senate.

It is worth noting that cooperation between Rabat and The Hague intensified following the 2017 murder of the son of a Moroccan judge in Marrakech, an attack allegedly ordered by Dutch-Moroccan drug trafficker Ridouan Taghi. Morocco also played a key role in Taghi’s arrest in Dubai in 2019.