Prosecutor orders investigation into secret asylum exploiting vulnerable patients

The prosecutor in Marrakech has launched a judicial investigation after the discovery of a secret asylum on a farm in El Kelaâ des Sraghnas, where 19 people were found trapped in appalling conditions.

The individuals, suffering from mental illnesses and addictions, were allegedly promised treatment but were instead exploited and forced to consume drugs.

Six people, including the farm owner, his son, and an infirmary worker, have been arrested on charges of human trafficking, torture, and manslaughter.

Investigators uncovered a network of intermediaries who recruited patients from across Morocco, including Casablanca and Agadir.

Further arrests are expected as the probe continues.

The investigation into the clandestine asylum has shocked the local community and raised serious concerns about the oversight of mental health care facilities in Morocco.

The Moroccan Human Rights association questioned the lack of oversight by local authorities and the Royal Gendarmerie, pointing out that this situation had been allowed to persist for years without intervention.

They cautioned that there could be other similar cases of forced detention elsewhere, calling for heightened vigilance from the relevant authorities.

The farm owner allegedly exploited the suffering of the mentally ill and addicted, convincing their families to pay for their care, promising to cure them after a two-year treatment period.

Instead, once patients arrived, they were drugged and mistreated, their conditions worsening rather than improving.

The gendarmes have also traced a network of intermediaries involved in the recruitment process, many of whom allegedly operated in major cities such as Marrakech, Agadir, and Casablanca, where families of the victims were deceived into sending their loved ones to the farm.

Some of the arrested suspects are accused of facilitating this scheme, while others are believed to have covered up evidence of the operation, hindering the investigation.

The authorities have not ruled out further arrests in connection with the broader trafficking ring.

As the probe expands, investigators are focusing on the connections between the farm’s owners and the network of intermediaries who targeted vulnerable families.

Authorities are also looking into the potential involvement of other healthcare professionals or individuals who may have turned a blind eye to the abuse.

The victims are being cared for in specialized medical facilities, where they are receiving treatment for both their mental health issues and the physical trauma caused by their ordeal.