Pubdate: Sat, 09 Aug 2003 Source: Washington Times (DC) Copyright: 2003 News World Communications, Inc. Contact: http://www.washingtontimes.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/492 Author: UPI Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/pot.htm (Cannabis) Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/find?203 (Terrorism) MARIJUANA PROFITS MAY 'FUND TERRORISM' RABAT, Morocco -- Morocco's $3.2 billion marijuana trade is under threat in the wake of suicide bomb attacks, a report said Saturday. For a long time the Moroccan authorities have turned a blind eye to the smuggling trade that accompanies cannabis cultivation, The London Daily Telegraph reported. The illicit crop is Morocco's biggest foreign currency earner and, according to EU estimates, is worth $3 billion a year -- making the country the world's largest marijuana exporter. But, since May 16 when Islamic suicide bomb attacks killed 32 people in Casablanca, that may change, the Telegraph said. "We have heard some evidence that perhaps terrorist cells that were based in Tangier were mixed up in the drug smuggling industry. It is of great concern and efforts are now being made to substantiate those claims," one Western diplomatic source told the Telegraph. - --- MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin