The Netherlands and Morocco are set to sign an extradition treaty to streamline efforts to persecute and extradite criminals between them, Dutch Justice Minister Dilan Yeşilgöz-Zegerius (VVD/Renew) wrote in a letter to parliament on Thursday, according to Euractiv.
Talks on the issue between the two sides have been ongoing since February.
“International drug crime is constantly shifting smuggling routes and criminal assets are put away in other countries at lightning speed to stay out of the hands of investigating agencies,” Yeşilgöz-Zegerius stated.
“Only by cooperating more with other countries can we roll up and destroy […] internationally operating criminal networks,” she added.
The minister said the treaty would be signed as soon as the convened text is translated and a fitting date is found, a process that could take several months.
The treaty is part of a wider endeavour by the Dutch government to stifle drug trafficking in the country, a problem that has become rampant over the past few years.
The treaty comes just a day after Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte (VVD/Renew) visited Morocco to discuss various topics, including migration, with his Moroccan counterpart Aziz Akhannouch.
Rutte had previously come under pressure by his own party to introduce measures to reduce the number of asylum seekers entering the country.
The issue also split the governing coalition, as coalition partners Christian Union (CU/EPP) and Democrats 66 (D66/Renew) – unlike Rutte’s party and coalition partner Christian Democratic Appeal (CDA/EPP) – advocated for a more humane approach to migration in accord with international agreements.
