Dutch Mafia boss arrested in Marbella escapes
The drug kingpin fled the Costa del Sol before he could be extradited
The highly praised capture of Karim Bouyakhrichan, one of the most dangerous leaders of the Dutch Mocro Mafia, turned into a legal embarrassment when he managed to flee despite facing charges in Spain and the Netherlands.
Responsibility falls onto the shoulders of the Provincial Court of Málaga and the National Court, both of which have been accused of poor communication resulting in his escape.
Bouyakhrichan was arrested in Marbella in January after travelling to Spain to allegedly strengthen ties between his Amsterdam-based gang and southern Spain drug cartels. He spent around two months behind bars before being released on bail by the Provincial Court of Málaga, much to everyone’s surprise given the flight risk.
However, he was ordered to hand in his passport, pay 50,000 euros in bail and check in with the courts every 15 days.
Shortly afterwards, Judge Ismael Moreno of the National Court approved an extradition request from the Dutch Justice Department, only to face resistance from the Provincial Court of Malaga. Refusing to execute the warrant, they argued outstanding domestic cases hindered Bouyakhrichan's immediate deportation.
Despite mounting tension, Judge Moreno called Bouyakhrichan’s lawyer to notify him of the planned extradition, which was when the accused felon fled.
His disappearance has caused enormous discomfort in both the Spanish security forces and the Dutch authorities, who were already highly critical of Spain’s decision to release the drug lord on bail.
Bouyakhrichan’s original arrest in January brought a huge sense of relief to the Dutch royal family. Heir to the throne of the Netherlands, Princess Amalia, essentially had to put her life on hold and hide away after receiving several death threats from the Mocro Mafia.
The future monarch left university in Amsterdam and fled to Spain for more than a year, but she felt confident enough to resume her life in Holland after the kingpin was apprehended.
Now, following Bouyakhrichan’s disappearance, fresh concern has surfaced among Dutch authorities.
In other news: Headless body discovered in Roquetas del Mar, Almería
Image: Policía Nacional
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