Drug offence lawyer in Casablanca

In Casablanca, Laamrani Law Firm defends people prosecuted for drug offences, from use and possession to international trafficking, before the Moroccan courts as well as the French courts and the courts of the Gulf states. We act from the very first hours, that is from police custody, all the way to the Court of Cassation.

Drug cases are among the heaviest in criminal law: sentences are severe, procedures are technical, and the file often extends beyond Morocco's borders. The defence therefore rests on a close reading of every investigative step before the facts themselves are even discussed.

Has someone close to you just been arrested? Call the firm without delay, including on our emergency line +212 661-066-690. What is said in police custody weighs on the whole case.

The legal framework in Morocco

Drug offences are mainly governed by Dahir No. 1-73-282 of 21 May 1974 on the suppression of drug addiction and the prevention of addicts. The text distinguishes personal use, on the one hand, from production, transport, import, export and possession for the purpose of trafficking, on the other. The Customs and Excise Code applies where borders are crossed, and Law No. 43-05 on combating money laundering applies where the prosecution extends to funds and assets.

Law No. 13-21 on the lawful uses of cannabis regulated the cultivation and processing of the plant for medical and industrial purposes under a strict licensing regime, without decriminalising illicit trafficking.

Penalties vary widely depending on how the facts are characterised: personal use is punished far less severely, while trafficking can carry up to ten years' imprisonment and heavy fines, not counting confiscation and customs penalties. The first issue for the defence is therefore characterisation: use, possession or trafficking?

From police custody to trial

• Police custody (garde à vue): checking that time limits and the rights of the person held are respected, and how the police report was drawn up. Your rights in police custody.
• Appearance before the prosecutor and the investigating judge: challenging pre-trial detention, applying for provisional release or judicial supervision.
• Judicial investigation: access to the file, requests for expert reports (analysis and weighing of the seized substances), procedural objections raised in good time.
• Trial and appeals: before the court of first instance or the criminal chamber of the court of appeal, then on appeal and before the Court of Cassation.

The defence begins with procedure

In these cases the outcome often turns on the lawfulness of each step: searches and seizures, the circumstances of the arrest, custody time limits, the validity of phone interceptions, geolocation and controlled deliveries, the chain of custody of exhibits, and the findings of the expert report. Any irregularity can lead to a step being annulled or a piece of evidence being excluded.

Then come the facts: is it established that the accused knew the substance was there? Was possession personal or shared? Do the quantity and the circumstantial evidence justify a trafficking charge rather than personal use? Where appropriate, we argue mitigating circumstances and an individualised sentence.

International cases: Morocco, Europe, the Gulf

Many of the drug cases we handle have an international dimension: shipments between Morocco and Europe, parallel prosecutions in several countries, international letters rogatory, arrest warrants and extradition requests. Because Maître Abdelatif Laamrani is a member of the Casablanca, Paris and Montréal Bars, the same team can follow the case on both sides of the Mediterranean and challenge the lawfulness of evidence gathered in one country for use in another.

We also assist people prosecuted before the courts of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, in Arabic and alongside Emirati colleagues. To learn more about these procedures, see our Extradition page.

Seizures, confiscation and protecting the family

Prosecutions rarely affect the accused alone: bank accounts, real estate and vehicles are seized, and the customs authorities claim penalties that can be very high. We handle this financial side of the defence, including applications to release assets belonging to relatives and third parties acting in good faith.

Frequently asked questions

What is the penalty for drug trafficking in Morocco?

The Dahir of 21 May 1974 provides, for trafficking offences, a prison sentence of up to ten years and a high fine, plus confiscation and customs penalties where applicable. The sentence actually imposed depends on the quantity, the type of substance, prior convictions and the circumstances of each case.

Can I contact a lawyer during police custody?

Yes. The Code of Criminal Procedure guarantees a person in police custody the right to communicate with a lawyer, under the conditions and time limits it sets. We therefore advise families to call the firm as soon as they learn of the arrest.

What is the difference between use and trafficking?

Use means personal consumption and is punished far less severely. Trafficking covers production, transport, sale and possession with intent to supply. Judges rely on quantity, packaging, cash seized, communications and other evidence to tell them apart; this is one of the key lines of defence.

Is bail (provisional release) possible in a drug case?

It can be requested at every stage of the proceedings, before the investigating judge or the trial court. The chances depend on the seriousness of the facts and on the guarantees the accused can offer (stable address, employment, surety). We prepare the application with the supporting documents. More on provisional release.

How much does a lawyer cost in a drug case?

Fees are set by written agreement according to the complexity of the case, the stage of proceedings and the number of hearings, in line with professional practice. An initial consultation lets us review the situation and estimate the fees. See also our Fees page.

A relative is detained in France or the Gulf. Can you help?

Yes. We appear directly before the French courts, and we assist people prosecuted in Dubai and Abu Dhabi alongside local colleagues, keeping in touch with the family in Morocco.

Is what I tell you confidential?

Yes. Everything you tell your lawyer is protected by professional secrecy, from the first consultation onwards.