Unveiling the Cannabis Industry in Ketama
In the remote mountainous region of Ketama, Morocco, a significant portion of Europe’s hashish supply is cultivated, revealing a clandestine industry that sustains hundreds of thousands of families. The investigative team from Equipo de Investigación ventured into this isolated area to showcase a reality seldom broadcasted, shedding light on the robust cannabis cultivation operations that dominate the local economy. Their report, aired in 2015, provided an in-depth look at the underground market that thrives in this part of northern Morocco, where an estimated 27,000 hectares of marijuana plantations flourish.
While Morocco has taken steps to legalize cannabis cultivation under specific conditions, the production and trafficking of hashish remain illegal. Nevertheless, the residents of Ketama approach this lucrative business with a sense of normalcy. One local succinctly stated, "Everyone eats," encapsulating how deeply intertwined the local economy is with cannabis production. It is estimated that nearly 800,000 Moroccans rely directly or indirectly on the cannabis trade for their livelihoods.
During the investigation, the team gained access to the insights of a young cultivator who candidly revealed the workings of his plantations and the hashish production process. This farmer disclosed that he earns around 4,000 euros per month and elaborated on the varying qualities of hashish, ranging from the first extractions—deemed the purest and most valuable—to lower-quality products. He humorously remarked that the hashish that ends up in Spain belongs to the inferior categories, quipping, "What you smoke there, we would feed to the goats here," illustrating the stark differences in product quality and the vast, multi-billion-euro business that continues to fuel drug trafficking across Europe.
As reported by lasexta.com.
