Spanish authorities release Ridouan Taghi's relative; extradition now under review

Firass T., 24, a relative of the main suspect in the Marengo case, Ridouan Taghi, was arrested in southern Spain in June on suspicion of large-scale drug trafficking but has now been released by the Spanish authorities, the Dutch Public Prosecution Service (OM) confirmed on Thursday.

The OM had started extradition proceedings for T., but learned this week that he had already been released. The reasons for the failure are unclear. "How the extradition was not completed and the suspect released is under investigation," the prosecution said. T. had been detained in Tarifa, Spain, while attempting to leave Europe, and a European arrest warrant had been issued for him.

Ridouan Taghi is the central suspect in the high-profile Marengo murder trial. He was sentenced to life in prison, and the case is currently on appeal. According to AD, Firass and his brother were reportedly planning an escape for Taghi from the Extra Beveiligde Inrichting (EBI) in Vught, where he is being held.

T. is suspected of involvement in a drug trafficking gang. In the same case, two men from Geldermalsen were arrested in June. They are set to appear in court for the first time next week and are believed to be connected to the February 2025 import of 366 kilograms of cocaine via the port of Antwerp.

T. is now listed on international watchlists. He was arrested four days after a major coordinated police operation on June 17, 2025, which targeted ten locations across the Netherlands. Authorities searched six homes in Geldermalsen, two in Deil, and one each in Meteren and Gorinchem, seizing luxury goods, drugs, cash, vehicles, and weapons, according to the police.

A 31-year-old man from Tricht was sentenced to 10 years in prison in July by the court in Zutphen as part of the same investigation. The court found him guilty of, among other offenses, importing 165 kilograms of cocaine and attempting to extort an individual.