Skip to main content

UAE sends French crime boss Mehdi Charafa back to France

1 min Mena Today

The UAE Federal Supreme Court has officially approved the extradition of Mehdi Charafa, a French national, to France, following a request from French authorities. 

Mehdi Charafa is a notorious drug trafficker, overseeing a vast criminal network operating in France and beyond © Mena Today 

Mehdi Charafa is a notorious drug trafficker, overseeing a vast criminal network operating in France and beyond © Mena Today 

The UAE Federal Supreme Court has officially approved the extradition of Mehdi Charafa, a French national, to France, following a request from French authorities. 

Charafa is accused of drug trafficking and money laundering, leading a major criminal network that reportedly generates tens of millions of dollars per month.

The extradition decision was made after the completion of all legal procedures in accordance with the extradition agreement signed between the UAE and France on May 2, 2007.

Initially, the Abu Dhabi Federal Appeal Court ruled in favor of Charafa’s extradition. However, the accused appealed the decision to the Federal Supreme Court, which rejected the appeal and confirmed the extradition during a session on January 14, 2025.

Charafa’s Criminal Empire and Life in Dubai

Mehdi Charafa is a notorious drug trafficker, overseeing a vast criminal network operating in France and beyond. His illicit activities have allegedly generated tens of millions of dollars every month.

To evade French authorities, Charafa fled to the UAE, seeking refuge in Dubai, where he continued to manage his drug empire from a luxurious villa. Despite being on the run, he remained active in his illegal operations, maintaining control over his network from abroad.

The approval of Charafa’s extradition highlights the UAE’s dedication to international cooperation in combating organized crime. 

By Nancy Witaker

Related

United Arab Emirates

Tour de France : The Gulf states are riding along

The Tour de France has kicked off with its opening stages in Spain, and as the peloton winds its way from Barcelona toward Paris, one thing is immediately apparent: the Gulf states have made themselves very much at home in cycling's greatest race.

Yemen

Iran's Yemeni proxy turns its guns on Saudi Arabia

Yemen's Houthi rebels have threatened to strike Saudi airports and vital assets in response to what they described as a Saudi military intrusion into their airspace, in the latest display of aggression from one of Iran's most powerful regional proxy forces.

Iran

Khamenei's final journey

Mourners thronged a vast prayer complex in Tehran on Saturday as the week-long funeral ceremonies of Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei began with the national anthem, religious eulogies and readings from the Koran.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Mena banner 4

To make this website run properly and to improve your experience, we use cookies. For more detailed information, please check our Cookie Policy.

  • Necessary cookies enable core functionality. The website cannot function properly without these cookies, and can only be disabled by changing your browser preferences.