"Dutch Court Sentences Drug Kingpin to Life in Landmark Mega-Trial"

Ridouan Taghi, the alleged leader of the "Mocro-maffia" gang in the Netherlands, has been sentenced to life in prison for orchestrating a series of murders. Taghi, described as the "undisputed leader" of a "well-oiled killing machine," was convicted on five murder counts and is believed to have ordered multiple "liquidations." The trial, which involved 17 suspects, was held under tight security due to the gang's violent reputation. Taghi, who was once the most-wanted fugitive in the Netherlands, was arrested in Dubai in 2019 and continued to operate from prison. The case relied on evidence from a key witness and intercepted communications from encrypted phones. The conviction has been hailed by Dutch MPs, and it comes amid a broader crackdown on organized crime in Europe.