Newly released documents from the US Department of Justice have revealed that convicted financier Jeffrey Epstein attempted to purchase a multimillion-dollar palace in Morocco just one day before his arrest in July 2019, shedding new light on his international financial dealings in the final hours before his detention.
According to the files, Epstein had been pursuing the acquisition of Bin Ennakhil, an expansive estate located in the exclusive Palmeraie neighbourhood of Marrakech, since 2011. Negotiations with the property’s seller stretched over several years due to disagreements over valuation and ownership structure.
Bin Ennakhil, often described as an architectural showpiece, was constructed by more than 1,300 craftsmen and is renowned for its intricate mosaics, hand-carved details, and traditional Moroccan design elements. The palace sits in Palmeraie, an enclave known for hosting royalty, business elites, and international expatriates.
On July 5, 2019 the day before his arrest Epstein signed off on a wire transfer worth approximately Ksh1.93 billion as part of an agreement to purchase the offshore company that owned the palace for a reported Ksh2.7 billion. The transaction is believed to have been Epstein’s last significant financial move before he was taken into custody upon returning to New York to face federal sex-trafficking charges.
The purchase, however, was never completed. Three days after Epstein’s arrest, his longtime accountant, Richard Kahn, cancelled the transfer. While speculation has circulated in Moroccan media suggesting Epstein may have viewed the country as a potential refuge particularly given the absence of an extradition treaty with the United States the released documents contain no direct evidence that he intended to use Morocco as a sanctuary.
A former associate, speaking anonymously, said the attempted purchase suggested Epstein “had no clue” that his arrest was imminent, though conceding that the scale of the property aligned with Epstein’s lifestyle. “It would make sense if he was thinking of a potential sanctuary where he could still live like a king,” the associate said.
Epstein’s links to Morocco stretch back more than two decades. One of his most prominent accusers, Virginia Giuffre, has written that she was flown to Tangier by Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell in the early 2000s to view luxury properties, as Epstein sought Moroccan-inspired designs for his private island residence.
In 2002, Epstein and Maxwell were also present at the wedding of King Mohammed VI, an event they attended after being invited by former US President Bill Clinton.
Following his 2008 conviction for soliciting a minor and subsequent release from house arrest in 2010, Epstein’s interest in Morocco appeared to intensify. The documents show that in the same year he asked former UK cabinet minister Peter Mandelson to help him find an assistant capable of locating a suitable home in Marrakech.
Emails released as part of the DOJ disclosures also indicate that Epstein’s then-partner, Karyna Shuliak, played a central role in scouting Moroccan properties. Marc Leon, a partner at Kensington Luxury Properties, told the BBC that Epstein had identified Bin Ennakhil as a prime target as early as 2011, maintaining intermittent negotiations over nearly a decade.
While the documents offer further insight into Epstein’s extensive international network and financial behaviour, officials have emphasised that being named in the files does not, on its own, imply wrongdoing. Nonetheless, the revelations underscore how Epstein continued to operate at the highest levels of global wealth and influence until the very eve of his arrest.
