At the heart of a major legal case, Saïd Naciri, former president of the famous Moroccan football club, Wydad Casablanca, must now answer serious accusations. The charges against him include counts as serious as forgery, fraud, abuse of power and, above all, international drug trafficking. A trial that began last May and which, like a thrilling soap opera, continues to reveal unexpected twists and turns.
Arrested in December 2023, Saïd Naciri is now on trial alongside 28 other defendants, including members of the police force, public administration officials and entrepreneurs. A constellation of defendants that highlights the scale and complexity of this extraordinary case.
The most recent episode of this trial was marked by the decision of Saïd Naciri’s defense lawyers to boycott the hearing. The reason? The refusal of the president of the court to summon Hadj Ahmed Ben Ibrahim, nicknamed “the Malian”, the main actor in this dark affair. Particularly publicized for his nickname “Escobar of the Sahara”, the latter shed a harsh light on the alleged illicit activities of Saïd Naciri and his entourage.
Indeed, according to the revelations of Hadj Ahmed Ben Ibrahim at the end of 2023, Saïd Naciri would have played a central role in a vast drug trafficking network. This international trafficking, orchestrated by “the Malian”, would have seen cocaine transit from South America through West Africa to Europe, but also cannabis resin. A conspiracy of spectacular magnitude, which shakes Moroccan society and highlights the flaws in the security and justice systems.
Faced with growing public anticipation, the hearing postponed at the request of the President of the Casablanca Bar Association promises to be a key moment in this trial. The defendants will finally have the opportunity to speak and give their version of the facts, thereby shedding more light on the gray areas of this extraordinary case.
The Saïd Naciri case raises profound questions about morality and ethics in the world of sport and politics. It highlights the complex issues of organized crime networks and questions the ability of judicial institutions to deal with such threats. A case to follow, awaiting future revelations and court decisions that will shape the future of all the protagonists involved.