The Liège Correctional Court will deliver its judgment on 30 January in a case involving large-scale drug extraction operations in European ports for the Calabrian mafia in Italy.
The trial focuses on clandestine cocaine shipments at the port of Antwerp and other European ports. The drugs, originating from South America, were smuggled into Belgium disguised within cargo. From there, they were transported to the Calabrian mafia.
The 24 defendants, aged between 30 and 75, face charges including drug trafficking, participation in a criminal organisation, document forgery, and weapons possession. Sentences sought against the alleged leaders are up to 20 years in prison.
The court has taken three months to deliberate and draft its judgment. The verdict will be announced on 30 January 2025.
