The Halle-Vilvoorde Public Prosecutor’s Office requested a 36-month prison sentence for a man in his fifties from Spain who was caught smuggling drugs.
Customs officials in Brussels found 81 pellets of cocaine, totalling 890 grams, inside his body. The Spanish national claimed the drugs were for personal use but refused to provide further details.
The man landed at Brussels Airport on 28 November, arriving on a flight from the Dominican Republic. Customs subjected him to a urine test upon arrival, which tested positive for cocaine. He was then taken to hospital, where a scan revealed he had swallowed the pellets.
"He claimed during questioning that the drugs were for personal use," said the prosecutor. "This is clearly unbelievable; it is evidently organised drug smuggling as part of a criminal organisation. I am requesting a 36-month prison sentence."
In court, the man exercised his right to remain silent and provided no further explanation. His lawyer pleaded for leniency.
"There is no excuse for his actions, my client realises he made a mistake and took a significant risk. However, he has no ties to Belgium and his entire life is in Spain. Keeping him in prison for months does not benefit our society. We request a suspended sentence."
The verdict will be delivered on 24 April.
