Police in Dubai (UAE) have arrested Dutchman Stefan P. Flemish daily Gazet van Antwerpen reports. Outgoing Belgian justice minister Paul Van Tigchelt has confirmed the news. For the Belgian authorities P. is a suspect in the drugs investigation centring on the company Kriva Rochem. When P. will be extradited to Belgium is still unclear.
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Another drug suspect arrested in UAE, Belgium seeks extradition
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P. had already detained in the United Arab Emirates, the UAE, once, in 2022 at the request of the Belgian authorities, but was later released.
Earlier this year, Minister Van Tigchelt travelled to Dubai in connection with the extradition of Nordin El Hajjioui, a well-known drugs baron. He then handed his Emirati colleagues a priority list of so-called High Value Targets. This included the name of Othman El Ballouti, who was arrested earlier, and also that of Stefan P.
According to Mr Van Tigchelt the pair are suspects in several major investigations involving cocaine trafficking, leadership of a criminal organisation and acts of violence in Antwerp and Brussels.
Associate of Bressers
P. is seen as one of drug baron Flor Bressers’s cronies. Both men are among the main suspects in the case centring on the Kriva Rochem company. That company, based in Antwerp, allegedly smuggled tonnes of cocaine from Brazil to the Netherlands.
An extradition procedure is now under way, but it could take months before the suspects are effectively transferred to Belgium. P. and El Ballouti can still appeal against their arrest and extradition.
According to Mr Van Tigchelt, P.'s arrest proves once again that the UAE believes in cooperation with the Belgian authorities. ‘We do not accept impunity. It is very important that the UAE is on our side in this fight’ he said.