AMSTERDAM, Holland: Dutch drug lord Ridouan Taghi, alleged mastermind of a notorious Amsterdam-based gang, received a life sentence for orchestrating a series of murders between 2015 and 2017. The Amsterdam District Court handed down sentences to Taghi and 16 other suspects, ranging from life imprisonment to one year and nine months.
Taghi’s gang, known as the “Mocro-mafia,” operated as one of the largest cocaine distributors in the Netherlands. Despite Taghi’s arrest in Dubai in 2019, prosecutors revealed that he continued to wield influence from prison, communicating covertly with associates outside.
The trial, dubbed the “Marengo” trial, marked an unprecedented event in Dutch legal history, characterized by heightened security measures and anonymous proceedings due to the risk of retaliation. Several individuals linked to the trial were assassinated, underscoring the high stakes involved.
The prosecution accused Taghi and his cohorts of orchestrating six murders and attempted murders, primarily targeting individuals suspected of collaborating with law enforcement. One notable case involved the mistaken identity killing of Hakim Changachi in Utrecht in 2017.
The trial saw dramatic developments, including the cooperation of a former gang member turned state witness, “Nabil B.,” whose testimony implicated Taghi and others in the criminal network. However, Nabil B.’s decision to cooperate sparked a new wave of violence, resulting in the deaths of multiple individuals, including his own brother and prominent journalist Peter R. de Vries.
Taghi staunchly denied all charges, criticizing the trial as a waste of resources that could have been allocated to essential public services. His defence team underwent upheavals, with multiple resignations and Taghi eventually opting to represent himself.
The prosecution presented extensive evidence, including intercepted communications from encrypted phones commonly used by criminal organizations. In addition to life sentences, prosecutors sought varying prison terms for the defendants, with Nabil B. facing 10 years behind bars.
Despite the conclusion of the trial, the Dutch legal community remains unsettled by the case’s grim revelations and the challenges posed by organized crime. Willem Jan Ausma, a prominent criminal law advocate, lamented the lengthy and distressing nature of the six-year-long legal process.
