Newly released US Department of Justice documents show that Jeffrey Epstein attempted to purchase a lavish palace in Morocco just one day before his arrest in July 2019 on sex trafficking charges.
The property, known as Bin Ennakhil, is located in the exclusive Palmeraie district of Marrakech and has been described as an architectural showpiece, built by more than 1,000 craftsmen and decorated with intricate carvings and mosaics.
Last major transaction before arrest
According to the documents, Epstein signed a $14.95m (£11m) wire transfer on 5 July 2019 as part of an agreement to acquire the offshore company that owned the palace for €18m (£13.3m).
He was arrested the following day in New York.
Three days later, his accountant, Richard Kahn, cancelled the transfer. The purchase was never completed.
The filing describes the transaction as Epstein’s final major financial move before his arrest.
Why Morocco?
Morocco does not have an extradition treaty with the United States, prompting speculation in local media that Epstein may have viewed the country as a potential refuge.
However, the released documents contain no reference to him discussing Morocco as a safe haven. A former associate, speaking anonymously, suggested the purchase indicated Epstein “had no clue” he was about to be arrested, though added it would have made sense if he had been considering a sanctuary abroad.
Longstanding ties
Epstein’s links to Morocco date back to the early 2000s. One of his accusers, Virginia Giuffre, wrote in her memoir that she was flown to Tangier by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell to review luxury interiors.
In 2002, Epstein and Maxwell attended the wedding of Mohammed VI, reportedly after being invited by Bill Clinton.
After his 2008 conviction in the United States for soliciting a minor, documents suggest his interest in Morocco increased. Emails show he sought assistance in finding a home in Marrakesh and made periodic visits to the Palmeraie area from 2012 onward.
Complex negotiations
The palace had long been owned by German businessman Gunter Kiss. Negotiations reportedly stretched back to 2011, with disputes over valuation delaying a deal for years.
At one stage, a proposed sale structure involved purchasing shares of an offshore company that held the property — a strategy that would have affected how the transaction was registered in Morocco. The real estate firm involved denied any unethical or illegal tax arrangements.
Ultimately, Epstein opted to proceed through the offshore share purchase and was still determining registration details when he was arrested.
Being mentioned in the released files does not imply wrongdoing for individuals named in the documents.
