Former counterterrorism analyst faces 12 years in prison over alleged leaks to Morocco

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has recommended a 12-year prison sentence for 66-year-old Abderrahim El M., who is accused of possessing and leaking state secrets. El M. spent many years as an analyst at the Dutch counterterrorism agency NCTV. Prosecutors allege that he acted as a spy, passing confidential information to “the top bosses” of Morocco’s intelligence service.

El M., a resident of Rotterdam, was arrested at Schiphol Airport in October 2023 while carrying data carriers containing sensitive information. He was traveling to Morocco at the time.

He maintains his innocence, claiming the case against him is a “misunderstanding,” and says he brought the documents home for work purposes, not to share them. Prosecutors, however, state that El M. stored “a huge quantity” of sensitive material at his residence.

Investigators uncovered hundreds of documents while searching the suspect’s residence over the course of two days. The public prosecutor described the papers as scattered throughout the home. Prosecutors say multiple witnesses dispute that El M. was authorized to remove the confidential documents from work.

El M. made frequent trips to Morocco, which he claims were related to family issues. Prosecutors contend that during those stays, he remained in contact with Morocco’s intelligence service, which regularly arranged and financed his travel. His preparations followed a fixed pattern: he would select and print classified documents at work, bring them home, scan them, and store the files on USB drives, according to the prosecution.

Following his arrest, El M. refused to answer questions for months, exercising his right to remain silent. It was not until last summer that he submitted a detailed written account. Prosecutors say they place little weight on the explanation. Calling it “too little, too late,” the prosecutor argued that El M. could have clarified many simple issues at a much earlier stage. The reasons for his silence, the prosecution added, remain entirely unclear.

Prosecutors say the alleged actions went far beyond damage to the NCTV alone, affecting a wide range of institutions, including the MIVD, the AIVD, and several ministries. The interests at stake, they argue, are extremely sensitive and substantial. The OM argued that espionage weakens security agencies and strains international relationships. As the prosecutor put it, information is a key source of power on the global stage and cannot be allowed to fall into the hands of someone accused of spying.

El M.’s attorney is scheduled to present his plea on Friday.