On 5 July 2019, Epstein signed a $14.95 million wire transfer as part of a deal to acquire Bin Ennakhil, a grand palace in the Palmeraie district of Marrakech. He was arrested the next day in New York on sex trafficking charges. The transfer was the last major financial transaction he made before his detention.
The palace, described as an architectural masterpiece built by 1,300 craftsmen, had been on Epstein’s radar since 2011. Negotiations with the German owner, Gunter Kiss, lasted years due to disputes over price and structure. The final agreement involved purchasing the offshore company that owned the property for €18 million.
Three days after the arrest, Epstein’s accountant Richard Kahn cancelled the wire transfer. The purchase was never completed.
According to BBC, Morocco does not have an extradition treaty with the United States. The released files, however, contain no reference to Epstein discussing the country as a possible refuge. A former associate said the transaction showed Epstein “had no clue” about his imminent arrest. The associate added that “it would make sense if he was thinking of a potential sanctuary where he could still live like a king”.
Epstein’s links to Morocco date back to the early 2000s. In 2002, he attended the wedding of King Mohammed VI with Ghislaine Maxwell after being invited by former US President Bill Clinton. After his 2008 conviction for soliciting underage sex, his visits to Morocco increased.
Documents show that in 2010 he asked former UK Labour minister Peter Mandelson to help him “fin[d] a house in Marrakesh”. From 2012, he made periodic stays in the exclusive Palmeraie district.
Emails in the released files also refer to a proposed “sale and tax strategy” linked to the offshore ownership of the property. Kensington Luxury Properties denied any wrongdoing. “This transaction did not violate any tax regulations,” Mr Leon told the BBC. “Mr Epstein wanted to pay registration fees in Morocco, even though he was under no obligation to do so… in order to own the property in his own name.”
The deal collapsed after his arrest, leaving behind records that show Epstein was still shifting large sums of money across borders just hours before he was taken into custody.