Seven suspects have been arrested in connection with a cocaine trafficking investigation at the port of Antwerp, the Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office announced on Friday.
The case dates back to July 2024. Two people in their 20s were found confined in a container at quay 1742. The investigation quickly led to a 55-year-old lorry driver who had transported the container to the port.
Around the same time, one tonne of cocaine was discovered in a warehouse in Wuustwezel, also in the Antwerp province. The two incidents appear to be connected.
The Federal Judicial Police have identified additional suspects involved in the case. "These individuals organised the transportation and were responsible for the temporary storage of the goods in the warehouse," the Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office stated.
A large-scale police operation was conducted on Tuesday as part of this investigation. Several searches took place in the Antwerp districts of Borgerhout and Ekeren, in Wuustwezel, in Sint-Niklaas (East Flanders), and in the Brussels region, including Auderghem and Schaerbeek.
Seven men were detained as a result. One was released under conditions, while the others were presented to an investigating judge who placed them under arrest.
During the raids on Tuesday, investigators seized approximately €160,000 in cash.
