Morocco’s judiciary made significant strides in 2024 in handling financial crimes, with specialized courts across four key regions (Rabat, Casablanca, Fès, and Marrakech) delivering a total of 416 rulings, according to the annual report from the Supreme Council of Judicial Power.
Fès emerged as the frontrunner, issuing 144 decisions with an average case resolution time of just 90 days. Marrakech closely followed with 141 rulings, although proceedings there took much longer, averaging 356 days. Rabat delivered 78 judgments, typically within 228 days, while Casablanca recorded the fewest decisions, 53 in total, with an average timeline of 323 days per case.
While Casablanca and Rabat showed modest reductions in processing times, Marrakech posted the most remarkable improvement, slashing its average case duration by 67% compared to the previous year. These gains, the Council noted, reflect a joint effort between local court leaders and central authorities, who implemented targeted support and oversight mechanisms to boost efficiency.
Progress was also notable in cases related to money laundering. Across Morocco’s specialized chambers, 312 rulings were issued—228 at the trial level and 84 on appeal. Once again, Marrakech led the pack, handing down 117 judgments in just under four months on average. Rabat processed 81 such cases, though with significantly longer timelines averaging 350 days. Fès resolved 79 cases swiftly, averaging just 62 days, while Casablanca delivered 35 judgments within an average of 121 days.
On the national level, Morocco’s dedicated counterterrorism court, the Appeals Court in Rabat, which holds exclusive jurisdiction over such matters, handled 177 cases throughout 2024. Of these, 85 were tried in the first instance, and 92 were handled on appeal. Impressively, 175 of the cases were resolved within established deadlines, giving the court a 99% compliance rate with procedural benchmarks.
Human trafficking cases also drew significant judicial attention. A total of 160 rulings were handed down in this category. Rabat topped the list with 26 judgments, followed by Tangier with 21 and Marrakech with 20. Among the outcomes, criminal courts delivered guilty verdicts in 52% of cases, while roughly one-third of defendants were acquitted. The remaining cases were reclassified, often under related charges such as child sexual abuse, pimping, or fraud.
In terms of convictions, 120 individuals were found guilty of human trafficking in 2024—76 men and 44 women. Although the overwhelming majority of those convicted were Moroccan nationals (113 out of 120), the report acknowledged the cross-border nature of the crime.
Throughout the year, 269 victims of human trafficking were officially identified. These individuals received support in accordance with Law 14-27, which mandates a comprehensive framework for protection, legal assistance, and rehabilitation services.
