Searches, trafficking, importation from South America… why Belgian midfielder Radja Nainggolan was arrested ?

Earlier this week, former Red Devils midfielder Radja Nainggolan was arrested by Belgian law enforcement. The Brussels prosecutor's office is expected to provide more details on the case on Tuesday.

Former Belgian international midfielder Radja Nainggolan was arrested on Monday along with fifteen other suspects in an investigation led by a Brussels judge into cocaine trafficking via the port of Antwerp, the Brussels prosecutor's office said.

Dozens of searches

On Monday morning, thirty searches were carried out by the police in the province of Antwerp, as well as in Brussels and the outskirts of the capital. A total of sixteen suspects were arrested, including footballer Radja Nainggolan, 36, who came out of retirement last week.

The investigation led by a Brussels investigating judge “concerns the alleged importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium”, the press release from the public prosecutor's office emphasizes.

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During the searches, the police seized 2.7 kg of cocaine, 14 vehicles, jewelry, luxury watches, two bulletproof vests as well as “several weapons including three firearms”. Cash and gold coins worth around 500,000 euros were also discovered, according to the prosecution.

Back in Belgium

Radja Nainggolan, a native of Antwerp, whose alleged role in this trafficking has not been specified, is a former international who played 30 times and scored six goals for the Red Devils.

Having played for Italian clubs Inter Milan and AS Roma, he had been without ties since last summer before signing last week with Belgian D2 club Lokeren. He scored a goal this weekend in his first match for Lokeren, in East Flanders, in a match that ended in a draw against Lierse (1-1).

Having returned from Italy to Belgium in the summer of 2021 to join Royal Antwerp, the eccentric midfielder with many tattoos had parted ways with the Antwerp club in early 2023 due to bad behavior. He had been suspended a few months earlier for having been caught smoking an electronic cigarette on the bench, according to Belgian media.

The Brussels public prosecutor's office is expected to announce on Tuesday the follow-up to the arrests, and the possible charges accompanied by pre-trial detention.