More than 1,000 people have been arrested in Morocco between 2022 and 2024 on charges related to the use or trafficking of “Poufa,” a cheap synthetic drug equivalent to crack cocaine that authorities say is spreading in urban and rural communities, according to a new crime observatory report.
The National Observatory of Crime (ONC) said 1,044 people were detained in connection with 878 cases during the two-year period, leading to the seizure of more than 18 kilograms of the substance. Of those arrested, 792 were in urban areas and 252 in rural ones.
Authorities recorded three deaths linked to bhoufa use, including one woman. The majority of those arrested were unemployed, single men aged 18 to 55 with at least a basic education.
The report noted a sharp rise in arrests: from 92 in 2022 to 482 in 2023 and 470 in 2024. “The growing number of arrests reflects the widespread penetration of this drug into social environments,” the ONC said, adding that its prevalence in cities suggests it has become “part of daily life” in some fragile urban areas.
Men made up the majority of those arrested — 343 in 2023 and 293 in 2024, compared with 55 and 19 women, respectively. The ONC said this gap highlights different social and geographic roles of men and women in the use or trafficking of the drug.
The report also linked poufa to rising violence. Police registered 37 violent crimes committed under the influence of the drug in 2023, up from just four in 2022, underscoring what the ONC called its “serious role in triggering aggressive and uncontrolled behavior.”
Casablanca-Settat topped regional statistics, with 712 police reports and 860 arrests, followed by Rabat-Salé-Kénitra with 107 arrests. Other arrests were concentrated in Beni Mellal-Khénifra (27) and Marrakech-Safi (24). No cases were reported in the southern provinces or Drâa-Tafilalet.
The ONC outlined several challenges to combating Poufa, including outdated legislation that does not fully address synthetic drugs, weak regulation of precursor chemicals, and institutional gaps in coordination. Technical difficulties in detecting ever-changing drug compositions and social stigma around addiction also hinder response efforts.
The observatory called for updated laws, stronger early-warning systems, improved prevention and awareness campaigns, and the creation of specialized regional treatment centers. It also recommended alternative sentencing, expanded rehabilitation programs, and closer international cooperation to confront the growing threat.
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