Counsel for one of the defendants in the Black Eagle drug trafficking case requested community service for his client on Monday at the Brussels Court of Appeal.
The defendant admitted to working as a “chemist” in clandestine laboratories, extracting cocaine from substances like coal and fruit pulp.
Thirty-four individuals are involved in this case. They are accused of belonging to a criminal organisation trafficking drugs between Latin America and Europe from 2018 to 2020.
The suspect confessed to handling various chemicals to separate the cocaine from legal substances. He explained that he was lured to Belgium to work for the drug network's alleged leaders, but was initially unaware of their illegal activities.
The defendant claimed he was quickly forced to work in clandestine laboratories, producing cocaine bricks. He also reported receiving death threats against his family, which prevented him from discontinuing his work.
He eventually managed to flee to Spain, never receiving any payment from his “employers.”
