Rabat – A cheap, highly addictive drug called “pufa” is spreading rapidly across Morocco, threatening a public health crisis and a rise in drug-fueled violence, according to a recent report published by the African Institute for Security Studies (ISS Africa).
Made from cocaine or methamphetamine waste mixed with toxic additives, pufa has already hooked thousands of vulnerable youth. Its low price – as little as 50 dirhams ($5) per gram – makes it accessible to even the poorest communities.
“Unless rapid and efficient measures are taken, Morocco could soon face a dramatic health crisis and an increase in violent and criminal incidents associated with this drug,” the report warns.
Pufa, also known as sisa or “cocaine for the poor,” leads to severe physical and psychological dependence after just a few uses. The synthetic drug can cause aggressive behavior, schizophrenia, skin infections, kidney failure and even death from just one overdose.
Its origins in Morocco remain uncertain. Some sources suggest it first emerged in Tangier in the mid-2010s under the name Lbasé, brought by people from northern Morocco seeking drug rehabilitation in Casablanca.
Others believe local drug dealers in impoverished areas introduced it by mixing leftover cocaine or crystal meth with other chemicals to increase their supplies. Many of these dealers had previously been involved in cocaine trafficking before shifting to pufa distribution.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, traffickers began mixing cocaine waste with other chemicals to produce the cheap, addictive drug. They then market it to students and poor neighborhoods.
During the 2022-2023 school year, almost 4,000 suspects were arrested for dealing pufa in schools, according to the report. Young girls are getting involved in prostitution to pay for their daily fix.
Production exploded when COVID-19 disrupted supply chains. Before, cocaine was too expensive for most Moroccans.
Made locally, pufa is much easier to manufacture and distribute than importing cocaine.
Hundreds of kilos are regularly seized, but dealers easily replace their stock. Experts warn this could fuel more cocaine trafficking as the raw materials become readily available.
In October 2023, over 1,300 kg of cocaine entering from Spain was intercepted. As Morocco becomes a cocaine transit hub to produce pufa, the crisis will intensify.
Over 3,000 registered addicts are now in rehab centers in northern Morocco. But jailing low-level dealers and users has failed to stop pufa from ravaging poor neighborhoods.
The report by the African institute urges stronger penalties for major traffickers and better health services for users.
It emphasizes the importance of providing methadone treatment and overdose prevention medications in order to save lives. But ultimately, only a coordinated strategy between law enforcement, health professionals, and community leaders can reverse the epidemic.
Morocco must act fast before pufa destroys another generation. The cheap high comes at an immense social cost that the country cannot afford.
