The Liège Correctional Court began examining a major drug trafficking case involving 24 defendants on Monday.
The case centres around the clandestine extraction of large quantities of cocaine from shipments in the port of Antwerp.
The drugs, originating from South America, were smuggled into Belgium where they were extracted and then transported to the Calabrian mafia.
The operation spanned several European countries, including Germany, Ukraine, and Italy.
A similar case involving 128 defendants awaits trial in Brussels. This particular case in Liège focuses on extraction activities based in Grâce-Hollogne in 2020.
The offences occurred between 2019 and 2023, including drug importation, exportation, production, possession, participation in a criminal organisation, forgery, and weapons possession.
The 24 defendants range in age from 30 to 75, with five currently detained. Only four of the remaining 19 appeared in court. The hearings, translated into Dutch, Italian, and Albanian, will continue for nine days until 31 October.
Some defence lawyers requested a separation of proceedings due to their clients’ involvement in the Brussels case, a request which was largely denied except for one defendant.
Arguments about the use of encrypted telecommunications from SkyECC have also been raised.
