The Capture of Said Razzouki as Reported in Colombia

Said Razzouki
-El Espectador (Colombia)


This week we have reported on the arrest of Moroccan Mafia kingpin Said Razzouki, who was a fugitive in the Netherlands. He was arrested in Medellin, Colombia as a result of cooperation between Dutch authorities and Colombian counterparts as well as assistance by DEA and the FBI. This week, we have translated and posted Dutch news reports. Here is how it is being reported in Colombia (El Espectador). Translation by Fousesquawk.

https://www.elespectador.com/noticias/judicial/detienen-en-medellin-uno-de-los-mas-buscados-de-los-paises-bajos-articulo-903691

One of the most wanted in the Netherlands Detained in Medellin.
Judicial  8 Feb 2020 - 11:49 AM

Agents of the DEA and FBI participated in the capture of Said Razzouki. This was the second (arrest) of the Dutch mafia, whose leader, Ridouan Taghi, was captured in Dubai in December 2019.

The most wanted criminal by Dutch justice, the alleged drug trafficer, Said Razzouki, was arrested in the Colombian city of Medellin, in an operation in which anti-drug units of DEA and the FBI also participated, was confirmed  this Saturday by the Public Prosecutor of the Netherlands. The arrest happened last Friday in an apartment building in Medellin, though the prisoner tried to flee and was slightly wounded by a police shot from the Colombian authorities, who carried out the arrest.

Dutch police, who explained in a statement that hundreds of investigators and specialists had dedicated "day and night" to the search of the arrested (person) during the past years, (and) asked for extradition, although it is expected that the process will take some time. A reward of 100,000 euros had been offered for Said Razzouki, a record total for the Dutch authorities.

Besides the  Colombian authorities, the investigation team also consisted of the Public Prosecutor, Dutch police, DEA, and the FBI, though it is still not known how they succeeded in finding his whereabouts.

Said Razzouki, 47, was the right-hand man of the other alleged drug trafficker and leader of the Dutch mafia, Ridouan Taghi, extradited to the Netherlands last December after being detained in Dubai, where he had been hidden in an area of chalets, paying rent in cash, and not leaving the house in order to go unnoticed.

Both, who had been on the international lists of search and capture, are accused of ordering several murders in recent years and, according to (authorities), Razzouki is the principal suspect in the so-called Marengo Trial, which will begin next March and which will prosecute him for managing  5 murders and several attempted murders.

In this judicial process, Said Razzouki is formally accused of leading a criminal organization which had the objective of carrying out murders, such as that of the well-known reporter (who) specialized in themes of organized  crime, Martin Kok, and who, in 2016, (they) tried to kill with a bomb placed under his car, near Amsterdam.

A total of 17 persons, the totality of the criminal organization known as "Mocromafia", are now detained in the judicial process, in which several of those linked have died before being brought before justice. The brother and the lawyer of the most important protected witness of the case, Nabil B., were shot to death in Amsterdam. It is presumed that the crime was committed with the intent of silencing them so that they do not testify.