Former Belgian Red Devil Radja Nainggolan has been put under suspicion for membership in a criminal organisation but has been released on conditions. He was arrested on Monday morning in an investigation into cocaine trafficking.
Famous Belgian footballer and current Lokeren-Temse midfielder Radja Nainggolan appeared before a magistrate on Tuesday afternoon. He was arrested on Monday along with 17 other people during a series of house searches as part of an investigation into cocaine trafficking from South America to Europe.
He has been put under suspicion for membership in a criminal organisation and released on conditions, his lawyers Mounir and Omar Souidi confirmed to Belga News Agency. The former Red Devil will therefore be allowed to resume training and participate in matches from Wednesday.
His lawyers said Nainggolan was not asked questions related to drug trafficking, only about amounts of money he allegedly gave to acquaintances. Nainggolan was admittedly not charged with money laundering. He allegedly gave money to friends to support them, out of joviality.
Eight people under arrest warrant
A total of 18 people (up from the previously confirmed 16) were arrested during the 30 property searches on Monday morning, mainly in the Antwerp province and Brussels and its outskirts.
"A total of nine people were indicted by the investigating judge for importing, transporting and selling narcotics without a licence and being part of a criminal organisation as a leading person," the new Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil confirmed on Tuesday. Eight people have been placed under an arrest warrant and one person was released under conditions.
Another person was released after questioning, while four others were placed under "written suspicion". A key figure believed to be in Dubai is still being tracked down.
The investigation focuses on cocaine importation from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium.
During the searches, police also seized €370,430 in cash, several luxury watches, including two watches worth around €360,000 each, jewellery, 100 gold coins worth a total of €116,522, luxury items, two bulletproof vests, multiple weapons, including three firearms, 2.7 kilos of cocaine and 14 vehicles.
This article was updated at 17:40 on Tuesday 28 January to include Nainggolan being released on conditions.
