A man was arrested on Thursday afternoon in Wortegem-Petegem, East Flanders, following a failed attempt to evade police control and causing an accident.
A significant amount of drugs was later discovered in his car, according to a Friday statement from the East Flanders prosecutor’s office.
A local motorcycle officer spotted the driver of a French-registered vehicle talking on his phone around 3:30 pm on Thursday. When instructed to pull over for a check, the driver ignored the officer’s commands and drove off.
During his escape, the suspect collided with a car coming from the opposite direction at a corner. Despite the impact, he continued his attempt to flee on foot.
The police extended their search, deploying a helicopter in the process. Thanks to a witness, they managed to locate the suspect who was hiding in a storage shed owned by Flemish business magnate Willy Naessens and made the arrest.
Inside the suspect’s vehicle, they discovered three kilograms of pure cocaine. The 20-year-old French national was presented to an investigating judge in Oudenaarde on the request of the East Flanders prosecutor’s office on Friday. He was then placed under arrest on charges of drug importation and possession.
