Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE CANNABIS INDUSTRY
The Rif is home to the largest acreage of cannabis cultivation in the world, an estimated 1340 sq km,
or 42% of global production. Cultivation has expanded rapidly since the 1980s, in part due to increas-
ing European demand. The cannabis trade is now the region's main economic activity, involving an
estimated 800,000 people, and probably Morocco's main source of foreign currency, although rural
farmers reap little from it.
Cannabis cultivation started around Ketama in the 15th century. In 1912 the right to cultivate can-
nabis was granted to a few Rif tribes by Spain. In 1956, when Morocco gained independence, can-
nabis was prohibited, but Mohammed V later condoned cultivation in the Rif after the prohibition led
to conflict there.
Most large shipments of Moroccan hashish (a concentrated form of marijuana) are smuggled into
Europe by boat, including small speedboats that can make a round trip to Spain in an hour. The
primary departure points are Martil, Oued Laou and Bou-Ahmed, although the bigger ports of Nador,
Tetouan, Tangier and Larache are also used. Traffickers also export hashish concealed in trucks and
cars embarked on ferries leaving from the Spanish enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla or from Tangier. Not
surprisingly, of all hashish seizures worldwide, half are made in Spain. It is now thought that terrorist
groups are entering the market in order to fund operations. Traffickers have also branched out into hu-
man smuggling, to include smuggling hashish and migrants into Europe together.
To counter this illegal trade, the government, encouraged by the EU, is actively promoting rural
tourism by supporting the establishment of
gîtes
and training programs for guides. Whether this will
provide a sufficient alternative source of income for local people remains to be seen.
