Azghenghan, whose name appears in the court file as “Moussa F. Ben M.,” is from the town of Azghenghan in Nador province. He was largely unknown to the wider public until the summer of 2025, when videos and photos from what was dubbed an “extravagant wedding” spread widely on social media.
The wedding took place in August 2025 at a luxury venue in the commune of Selouane. Images showing lavish displays and luxury cars circulated widely, along with footage showing the firing of firearms whose possession is prohibited under Moroccan law.
The incident prompted a security investigation and a broader inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the event.
As Azghenghan’s name spread online in connection with the wedding, subsequent security information indicated that he was wanted in numerous cases.
Dozens of arrest warrants led to his arrest in Salé
On September 30, 2025, several weeks after the controversy surrounding the wedding, members of the Rabat anti-gang squad, working with the General Directorate for Territorial Surveillance, arrested Azghenghan in Salé after information helped investigators locate him.
According to security sources cited at the time, he was the subject of dozens of nationwide arrest warrants in cases involving drug trafficking, settling scores using firearms and human trafficking.
Information published later indicated that his name appeared in 51 cases under investigation by the national police and Royal Gendarmerie. The cases included trafficking in hard drugs, human trafficking, threats involving firearms and links to a criminal network.
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His arrest marked the beginning of a judicial process that lasted nearly a year before the case reached the Nador Court of Appeal for a first-instance ruling.
30-year prison sentence
On Wednesday, September 30, 2026, the criminal chamber of the Nador Court of Appeal issued its first-instance ruling, sentencing Azghenghan to 30 years in prison.
According to the ruling reviewed by Le360, the court found the defendants guilty of the charges against them and sentenced Azghenghan, the first defendant, to 30 years in prison. Three other defendants received sentences ranging from six months to four years, along with fines.
The court also ordered Azghenghan and two other defendants to jointly pay MAD 108,010 to the Customs Administration in connection with the illegal possession of a vehicle.
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Azghenghan and one of the other defendants were separately ordered to jointly pay MAD 220,857 for a similar offense. The two seized vehicles were also ordered confiscated and transferred to the Customs Administration.
The total amount awarded in the Customs Administration’s claims was therefore MAD 328,867, divided according to the joint liability set out in the ruling.
The court informed Azghenghan of his right to appeal.
