The Antwerp federal and local police have arrested five men in a joint operation as part of an investigation into international drug trafficking, according to the Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office.
The investigation focuses on a criminal network suspected of importing and exporting cocaine via the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam, with routes from South America. House searches were also carried out in Albania.
The local police tracked down the gang. During the investigation, several elements of the operation were uncovered. A taxi company manager is suspected of having made his apartment available as a meeting place for drug smugglers.
The men may also have made arrangements for drug transfers at sea near the Canary Islands. The five also used front companies, encrypted communications and foreign mobile phone cards to shield their criminal activities.
The investigation uncovered several drug shipments, including two consignments that were allegedly brought in via Kaai 730 in the port of Antwerp and one consignment that was intercepted in Brake, Germany. The police also foiled plans to obtain quick cash through violent crimes.
The joint Belgian police operation included six house searches in Antwerp, Deurne, Jette and Kontich, during which five suspects aged between 29 and 55 were arrested. At the same time, three house searches were carried out in Albania by the Albanian state police.
The two operations combined yielded more than €230,000 in cash, as well as luxury watches, crypto cards, mobile phones and gold. Two other suspects are believed to have fled abroad before the police could arrest them.
