Moroccan police arrested Samir El Y., also known as “Samir Turtle,” an alleged drug trafficker from Antwerp, Belgium, in October in Casablanca, Belgian media reported on Monday.
Also known as “Patatje,” the man was wanted by Belgium and the Netherlands for his involvement in an international drug trafficking ring that smuggled ecstasy pills into Morocco.
The suspect, in his 50s, is also facing human trafficking charges. He is linked to several investigations in Belgium, particularly in Antwerp and Brussels, as part of the Sky ECC operation.
Sky ECC, a major law enforcement initiative coordinated by European authorities, intercepted and decrypted millions of messages exchanged among criminal networks, with El Y. reportedly using aliases such as “Dragon” and “Isaac Griffith” during these operations.
Officially residing in Borsbeek, the suspect had been on the run for several years and is believed to have lived in Dubai to evade capture.