We live in the region of Essaouira for a bit more than 1 year now. Like Marrakech, this region depends heavily on tourism. Such regions attract salesmen and other types of entrepreneurs who have a lust for money. Many stories indicate, that corrupt police officers and the legal system are quite effective instruments for such people.
Recently we have published a website (http://essaouira.net84.net) with our story, which is about an attempt to extortion and the role of policemen and the legal system. The site is
The reason to post this message is to get feedback. So far I heard that expats usually pay and leave, simply because they are scared and feel overpowered. We would like to hear from expats what their experiences are. Are situations like this unique for the regions of Essaouira and Marrakech, or are we facing a common practice in Morocco?
Looking forward hearing from you!
