Former Moroccan spy reportedly offered Spain intelligence information in bid to avoid extradition

Mehdi Hijaouy was reportedly forced into exile following a conflict with some of his intelligence colleagues in Morocco. Former Moroccan intelligence officer Mehdi Hijaouy contacted people close to ex-Venezuelan spy chief Hugo Carvajal in the summer of 2024, offering information to Spanish authorities in exchange for protection from a potential extradition to Morocco, The Objective reported. At the time, Hijaouy, who was reportedly forced into exile following a conflict with some of his intelligence colleagues, was in France, but he would move to Spain over fears for his safety and that of his family. Hijaouy turned to a lawyer who had taken part in efforts to persuade Carvajal to cooperate with Spanish authorities as he sought to prevent his own extradition to the United States. Carvajal, a former director of Venezuela’s military intelligence agency, was arrested in Spain in 2021 and later extradited to the US on narco-terrorism and drug trafficking charges. According to sources cited by The Objective, the former Moroccan agent claimed to have information on how Morocco's intelligence services operate and was willing to share it. The offer reached the public prosecutor's office at the Audiencia Nacional, headed by Jesús Alonso, via an intermediary. According to documents disclosed by "ABC," an email was sent on 7 October 2024 formally presenting it. Hijaouy said he could provide information on the use of Pegasus spyware to target Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, as well as on terrorism and organised crime. The prosecutor's office responded on 28 October. An assistant to Alonso said that since the Pegasus case was already before the courts, the information had to be passed on to the investigating judge. According to judicial sources quoted by "ABC," the offer never reached Judge José Luis Calama. After giving up on the option of cooperating with Spanish authorities, Hijaouy began considering leaving Spain. The Objective reported that he looked at moving to Canada or Algeria, among other countries. He eventually left Spain via a ship and private plane before reaching Turkey. He has since continued on to another destination, and his current whereabouts is unknown.