Best Drug Crime Lawyers in Tétouan

About Drug Crime Law in Tétouan, Morocco

Tétouan is part of the Tangier-Tétouan-Al Hoceima region, a coastal and border-adjacent area where authorities closely monitor narcotics activity. Moroccan law criminalizes the unauthorized possession, use, cultivation, production, transport, and trafficking of narcotics and psychotropic substances. While Morocco introduced a regulated framework for medical and industrial cannabis, personal, recreational possession or use remains illegal. Enforcement is active in urban areas, on intercity roads, and near ports and border crossings, so drug investigations and roadside checks are common.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

People in Tétouan commonly seek legal help for the following situations:

- Arrest after a street or roadside search for possession or suspected trafficking.- Police investigation following a tip, surveillance, or a controlled delivery operation.- Discovery of drugs in a private car, rented vehicle, home, or workplace, including cases where ownership is disputed.- Allegations of intent to sell based on quantity, packaging, cash, or phone messages.- Involvement in cross-regional or cross-border transport, including courier scenarios.- Cases with seized phones, laptops, or bank accounts and requests for digital data or financial records.- Foreign nationals facing language issues, consular notification questions, or potential deportation consequences.- Minors or students accused of use or possession near schools or public facilities.- Negotiating pretrial release, bail-like measures, or alternatives such as court-ordered treatment for addiction.- Appeals, sentence reductions, or requests to recover seized property after a case concludes.

Local Laws Overview

- Core statutes: Morocco regulates narcotics primarily under the 1974 law on the repression of narcotics and subsequent amendments. These rules apply nationwide, including Tétouan. Additional rules address psychotropic medicines, precursors, and pharmacy controls.

- What is illegal: Without authorization, it is a criminal offense to use, possess, buy, sell, offer, cultivate, manufacture, transport, import, export, or facilitate the distribution of narcotics or psychotropic substances. Even small amounts for personal use can lead to prosecution.

- Cannabis framework: Since 2021, Morocco allows cannabis activities for medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial uses within a licensed and tightly controlled system. Only authorized farmers, processors, and distributors in designated zones and under the cannabis regulator may participate. Recreational possession or use remains illegal in Tétouan.

- Penalties: Sanctions vary based on conduct and aggravating factors. Simple use or possession can result in fines and imprisonment. Production, trafficking, or involvement in organized activity can lead to multi-year prison sentences and substantial fines. Courts may also order confiscation of proceeds and tools of the offense.

- Aggravating factors: Involving minors, using weapons, acting within an organized group, or offending near schools or public facilities can increase penalties. Repeat convictions can also lead to harsher outcomes.

- Alternatives and treatment: Moroccan law allows judges to consider medical treatment orders for individuals with addiction. In suitable cases, treatment can influence sentencing or the course of prosecution.

- Procedure in practice: Police may conduct identity checks and searches in flagrante delicto situations and carry out investigations under the public prosecutor or investigating judge. Garde a vue police custody is time limited and extensions require legal authorization. Suspects have the right to be informed of accusations, to request a lawyer, and to an interpreter if they do not understand Arabic. Foreign nationals can request consular notification.

- Searches and digital evidence: Homes, vehicles, and devices can be searched under specific legal conditions. Prosecutors or judges may authorize searches and data access orders. Evidence obtained unlawfully can be challenged in court.

- Pretrial release: Courts can grant provisional release with conditions such as travel restrictions, reporting duties, or financial guarantees. Violating conditions can lead to re-arrest.

- Criminal record and rehabilitation: Convictions appear on a criminal record extract. After statutory periods and conditions, rehabilitation procedures may be available to reduce the impact of a record.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is possession of a small amount for personal use legal in Tétouan?

No. Possession or use without authorization is illegal, even in small amounts. Penalties can include fines and imprisonment, though outcomes vary by case and background.

What changed with cannabis legalization in Morocco?

Morocco created a licensed system for medical, pharmaceutical, and industrial activities under a national regulator. Recreational possession, use, or unlicensed cultivation remains a criminal offense in Tétouan.

Can police search my car during a roadside stop?

Police conduct checks on intercity roads and may search if there are legal grounds such as flagrante delicto or proper authorization from the prosecutor. If a search occurs, note what was searched, who was present, and any items seized, and tell your lawyer immediately.

How long can police keep me in custody before I see a judge?

Police custody is time limited by the Code of Criminal Procedure and can be extended only with legal authorization. Timelines depend on the type of offense and circumstances. Ask to notify a relative and request a lawyer as early as possible.

Do I have the right to a lawyer during questioning?

Yes. You can request a lawyer. If you do not understand Arabic, you can request an interpreter. Do not sign statements you do not understand.

Will I go to jail for a first offense of personal use?

It is possible. However, courts sometimes impose fines, suspended sentences, or consider treatment-based measures for addiction. A lawyer can present mitigating factors and propose alternatives.

What if the drugs were not mine or were found in a shared space?

Ownership and control are factual issues. Your lawyer can challenge possession, intent to sell, or knowledge, and can request forensic tests, witness statements, or surveillance review to support your defense.

Can my phone or laptop be searched?

Digital devices can be examined under legally authorized procedures. Your lawyer can challenge unauthorized access or the scope of data collection if procedures were not followed.

What happens to my car or money if seized?

Authorities can seize suspected proceeds, vehicles, and tools of the offense. Courts may order confiscation after conviction. Your lawyer can seek return of property if it is not linked to an offense or after proceedings conclude.

I am a foreigner. Will my consulate be informed and can I be deported?

You can request consular notification. A criminal conviction can affect immigration status and may lead to removal measures after the sentence. Speak to a lawyer about criminal and immigration consequences.

Additional Resources

- Tribunal de Première Instance de Tétouan - handles misdemeanors and many drug-related cases at first instance.

- Cour d Appel - regional court of appeal for serious felonies and appeals from first instance courts in the area.

- Parquet du Procureur du Roi - the public prosecutor overseeing investigations and prosecutions.

- Ordre des Avocats de Tétouan - local bar association that can help you find a defense lawyer.

- Direction Générale de la Sûreté Nationale - national police for urban areas, including Tétouan.

- Gendarmerie Royale - law enforcement for non-urban zones and roadways.

- Agence Nationale de Réglementation des Activités du Cannabis - national regulator for licensed medical and industrial cannabis activities.

- Ministère de la Justice - oversees the justice system and policy.

- Conseil National des Droits de l Homme - national human rights body that can provide information on detainee rights.

- Centres de soins en addictologie - public or association-based addiction treatment centers that may support court-ordered treatment plans.

Next Steps

- If contacted by police - stay calm, provide identification, and request to contact a lawyer and a relative. Ask for an interpreter if needed.

- Do not consent lightly - do not consent to searches or sign statements you do not understand. Politely insist on legal assistance.

- Call a local defense lawyer - choose someone experienced in drug cases in Tétouan. Share all facts, including any witnesses or messages that could clarify context.

- Preserve evidence - keep records of communications, travel, receipts, and any medical documents related to addiction treatment. Provide these to your lawyer.

- Discuss strategy - your lawyer can assess charges, challenge searches, request release measures, negotiate alternatives such as treatment, and prepare for trial if needed.

- Follow court instructions - attend all hearings, comply with release conditions, and continue any approved treatment or counseling. Non-compliance can worsen outcomes.

This guide is informational and not a substitute for legal advice. For decisions about your case, consult a qualified lawyer in Tétouan.