An Amsterdam court sentenced Moroccan crime boss Ridouan Taghi to life imprisonment, marking a significant victory for Dutch law enforcement. Taghi, who has been in custody since 2019, is notorious for his reign over a vast drug trafficking empire that terrorized witnesses and officials even in his absence.
According to "Lenta.ru," the trial took place in Amsterdam, where Taghi, along with 16 of his associates, faced charges. They were implicated in a drug cartel responsible for smuggling tons of cocaine and other narcotics from Peru and Morocco into the Netherlands.
The court handed down life sentences to Taghi and two of his key partners, Saad.R and Mario.R, while 14 other members of the criminal organization received prison terms ranging from 29 years and two months to one year and nine months.
Dutch media outlets reported that the verdict concludes a trial spanning nearly six years and 142 days, involving six murders committed between 2015 and 2017, four attempted murders, and plans for further assassinations.
The judgment in what is known as the "Marengo trial" implicated 17 suspects, with Taghi identified as the principal accused. The Dutch Public Prosecution Service described Taghi and Saad.R as leaders of a "well-organized hit organization."
Taghi's arrest in December 2019 in Dubai was a pivotal moment in the investigation, particularly concerning his role in orchestrating a hit in Marrakech's "La Crème" café in November 2017, which shook the Moroccan city.
Taghi's group was believed to control a third of Europe's drug supply, with his wealth estimated to exceed one billion US dollars at the time of his arrest.
The trial was marked by high-profile incidents, including the assassination of the key prosecution witness Nabil B.'s brother, despite stringent security measures. In 2021, Dutch journalist Peter de Vries, who was covering the trial, was fatally shot in central Amsterdam, succumbing to his injuries nine days later.
The reach of Taghi's gang extended to threats against high-profile politicians, with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte being warned in September 2021 of potential targeting by the mafia. Since then, Rutte has eschewed his customary bicycle rides in Amsterdam for an armored vehicle.
The trial's implications also affected the Dutch royal family, with Crown Princess Amalia relocating from Amsterdam in 2022 and subjected to strict security protocols due to fears of being targeted by Taghi's gang.
This verdict sends a strong message against organized crime in Europe, highlighting the Dutch judiciary's commitment to combating drug trafficking and ensuring the safety of its citizens and officials.
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