A large-scale investigation into a criminal organization trafficking drugs through the port of Antwerp has led to the arrest of 16 people and the seizure of over 1.6 tons of cocaine, a significant amount of ketamine, as well as firearms and ammunition. The news was confirmed by the Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office, which said the operation was carried out by the Federal Judicial Police (FGP) after months of in-depth investigations.
According to the spokeswoman for the Prosecution, Kato Belmans, the criminal group, with members mainly of Albanian origin, used a warehouse in Pereboomstraat, Moerbeke, near the city of Lokeren, to extract drugs from containers arriving at the port.
"On October 21, the police intervened with special forces and arrested six people in Sint-Niklaas and on the E34 highway. Inside a van, 1,398 kilograms of cocaine were found, hidden in wooden crates," Belmans declared.
Investigations later revealed that the group was using three apartments on Antwerp's Van Immerseelstraat to temporarily store drugs. During a search in the afternoon, police discovered compartments professionally built for hiding narcotics.
“A 39-year-old Dutchman specialized in building these secret compartments in homes and vehicles,” Belmans added. “Another 277 kilograms of cocaine, a drug processing plant, and several weapons and ammunition were found in this operation. In total, seven people were arrested.”
The gang also used another warehouse in Scheldelaan, Willebroek, where last week police arrested three Serbian nationals aged 22 and 25. During the searches, 10,000 euros, a signal blocking device (jammer), forged passports, fake police ID cards, as well as firearms with ammunition were found.
According to the authorities, all those arrested appeared before the Antwerp Council Court, which decided to confirm the detention measures. For three of the suspects, the hearings have been postponed to another date.
The prosecution stressed that the organization supplied other criminal groups in Europe, while some of the apartments in Antwerp were used as logistics centers for transporting drugs to the United Kingdom by truck.
In mid-September, during a joint operation with the Antwerp Police, three more people were arrested, who were caught red-handed with 50 kilograms of cocaine, 25 kilograms of ketamine and several firearms. They are currently in custody. This is one of the largest anti-drug operations conducted in Belgium this year, which, according to the authorities, hit an international trafficking network operating through the strategic port of Antwerp – one of the main entry points for cocaine into Europe.
