Belgium, together with Italy and others, has busted a drug gang that smuggled cocaine from South America to Europe. Belgium played a key role because this is where the Italian drug family stored the drugs in warehouses for processing.
Home News
Key role for Belgium as drug gang smuggling cocaine from South America to Europe is busted
Colin Clapson
Published:
At the head of the gang was an Italian family, which had contacts with drug gangs in Colombia as well as chemists in Belgium. They smuggled cocaine from South America to various European ports. They then stored the drugs in Belgium in warehouses, which were used as laboratories. Besides cocaine, the criminal organisation was also involved in the heroin trade and money laundering.
The investigation began thanks to the analysis of encrypted data from hacked Sky ECC phones used by criminals. ‘Thanks to the rigorous work of Belgian investigators, some crucial clues led to the opening of a case in 2022. Italy, Switzerland, Germany, the Netherlands, France and Albania were all involved.’ Because so many countries were implicated, Europol also came into the picture to coordinate the investigation.
In particular, the Carabinieri of Borgo San Lorenzo, a municipality close to Florence, played a key role in identifying members of the organisation.
In the course of the investigation, several large shipments of cocaine could be intercepted, including at the French port of Le Havre (667 kilograms). More than 100 kilograms of cocaine were also discovered in vehicles with hidden compartments.
In April, police carried out 11 house searches, in Belgium and Italy. In the end, 14 suspects were arrested, most of them in Belgium. Police were also able to dismantle an illegal laboratory used to process the cocaine. During raids, a cocaine press was also seized.