Diplomatic crisis erupts over Ridouan Taghi

Sumayya Saad, Staff Reporter

The extradition of Ridouan Taghi to the Netherlands on Thursday led to a diplomatic crisis between Morocco, Taghi’s home country, and the Netherlands, where he led the ‘Angels of Death’ gang, the most dangerous drug trafficking organization. The crisis erupted although there is a UN organized crime control agreement between the two countries, particularly the part related to extradition of criminals, which is the same as that signed between the UAE and the Netherlands.

According to Moroccan sources, Morocco will pressure the Netherlands for extradition of outlaw Saeed Sh’ao, a former parliament member, in return for allowing Amsterdam to get Taghi, considering that the Dutch judiciary is refusing to extradite him to Morocco.

Taghi, 41, is wanted in 30 murders committed by him and his partner Saeed Razouqi, who is still at large. The Dutch authorities initiated interrogations with Taghi upon his arrival in the Netherlands. The authorities also arrested other 6 criminals in varous parts of the Netherlands hours after Taghi was arrested in Dubai. These included 5 men and a woman aged between 29 and 45 years, who were involved in money laundering, arms trade and drug peddling.

The most audacious of Taghi’s crimes was the murder of prosecution lawyer, Derk Wiersum, 44, in Amsterdam in September, who was shot down in front of his wife.

Wiersum’s murder sparked outrage in the country and forced police to step up their investigation, assigning nearly 100 digital and financial expert officers onto the case.

Taghi further killed a number of individuals including relatives and even his brother. He also masterminded 5 assassinations, while attempted to commit six other assassination in Belgium. Other charges included his involvement in the murder of Iranian opposition member Mohammed Redha Samadi, 56, in December 2015 in Almere village, Netherlands in addition to other Iranian opposition members in Europe.