Hashish accounts for 23% of Morocco's GDP

According to the US State Department, the production of hashish in Morocco would represent 23% of the country's Gross Domestic Product. A shocking figure, but one whose collection methods are open to debate.

Every year, the U.S. State Department publishes a report on the world drug situation. The report covers a wide range of countries, from Laos to the Netherlands and Bolivia. However, Morocco is given a very precise numerical estimate. The US authorities thus report that the country's hashish production reached 700 tonnes between 2015 and 2016. According to the Americans, in collaboration with the United Nations, these 700 tonnes would represent 23% of Moroccan GDP amounting to US$100 billion. The GDP generated by drug trafficking is not specified for other countries.

Vague data processing

Big Brother America uses satellite images to collect data on every country in the world. On these images, the Americans locate cannabis, poppy and coca plantations. Using this sample, and images from previous years, the Americans establish an estimate of production. In addition to these images, data on drug seizures and figures communicated by governments, the UN and NGOs are compiled. They themselves admit that the data is difficult to verify, as they are not in the field.

Chakib El Khayari, President of the Rif Association for Human Rights, tells the website Yabiladi Morocco has not been monitored by satellite since 2005, so how can we make reliable calculations?»

The journalist from the Yadibaldi website also highlights the inconsistency in terms of cannabis prices. According to her, hashish in Morocco fetches around US$1,500 a kilo. If we follow the 700 tons for 23 billion, the average cost per kilo would be 32,000 euros. That's a lot of money!

In this report, the Americans pay particular attention to hard drugs. They are concerned about the new route taken by narcos. Traffickers are now using Morocco to export cocaine to Europe. These figures and two record cocaine seizures in Morocco are consistent with the establishment of a DEA office in Morocco.

It is estimated that even today, 80% of hash sold in France comes from Morocco.

Théo Caillart