Suspected of having imported more than two tonnes of cocaine in Europe between January and April 2021, the network was led by two Moroccans and a French since Dubai.
by Simon Piel and Thomas Saintourens
New illustration of the geography of criminal networks at work in Europe, on November 8, several arrests conducted under the coordination of Eurojust and Europol, took place in Belgium, Spain, France and Dubai (Emirates United Arab). They occur as part of a joint survey on a vast cocaine traffic at mainly the French market.
The targeted organization is suspected of having achieved, between January and April 2021, a series of cocaine deliveries from South America and Guyana in particular the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Rouen , for a total amount of 2.1 tonnes. Drugs, hidden in legal freight, mainly foodstuffs, had passed on for certain deliveries by Africa.
Investigations, carried out in France by the antisputing office (OFAST) under the direction of the national jurisdiction against organized crime, suggest that the network was led from Dubai by three men, two Moroccans, of 39 And 41 years old, who grew up in Belgium, and a French from Val-de-Marne, already known for their activities in drug trafficking from Dubai.
Two of them were arrested by the Emirati authorities following the issue of a European arrest warrant on October 20. The three of them are considered by European policies as priority targets of interest. They are criticized for the management crime of a grouping aimed at importing, transporting, detention, offer, transfer, acquisition or illicit employment of narcotics and incur perpetuity. They are now awaiting their extradition.
Removal and torture
The case is coupled with a dark abduction story. In June 2020, one of the “employees” of the criminal organization, suspected of having tried with accomplices disguised as false police officers of stealing cocaine in a warehouse in Antwerp was kidnapped and tortured in retaliation. In France, three people were indicted on November 11, 2022, for importers of drugs in organized gang, association of criminals, kidnapping and sequestration with act of torture and barbarism in organized gang and placed in pre -trial detention . A fourth man of French nationality and arrested in Spain was given to France, then indicted and imprisoned.
This European operation occurs in the context of a cocaine market still in full expansion having made the port of Antwerp its stronghold, and of Dubai its rear base. In recent months, the Emirati authorities, moderately appreciating being presented as the refuge of global thug, have been trying to give wages by carrying out arrests claimed by their European counterparts. From Moufide Bouchibi to Hakim Berrebouh, several French nationals, presented as high -ranking traffickers have been arrested and then extradited in recent months. Other arrests relating to other current surveys in Europe have also taken place in recent weeks in Dubai. On the Belgian side, an extradition agreement was signed at the end of 2021.
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