A cocaine importation network between France, Belgium, Spain and Dubai was broken up

In a new illustration of the geography of criminal networks operating in Europe, on November 8, several arrests coordinated by Eurojust and Europol took place in Belgium, Spain, France and Dubai (United Arab Emirates). They arise as part of a joint investigation into large cocaine traffic, mainly destined for the French market.

The target organization is suspected of having shipped 2.1 tonnes of cocaine from South America and Guyana to the ports of Antwerp, Rotterdam and Rouen between January and April 2021. The drugs, disguised as legal cargo, mostly foodstuffs, were in transit for certain deliveries through Africa.

An investigation by France’s Office of Anti-Drugs (Ofast), led by the national jurisdiction to fight organized crime, suggested that the network was run by three men from Dubai, two Moroccans, aged 39 and 41. Raised in Belgium and French from Val-de-Marne, already known for his drug trafficking activities from Dubai.

Two of them were arrested by Emirati authorities on October 20 after issuing a European arrest warrant. All three of them are considered a priority object of interest by the European police. They are accused of leading a group whose purpose is the illegal importation, transportation, possession, delivery, transfer, purchase or use of narcotics and face life imprisonment. They are now awaiting extradition.

kidnapping and torture

A dark story of kidnapping is attached to the case. In June 2020, an “associate” of a criminal organization suspected of stealing cocaine from an Antwerp warehouse with accomplices disguised as fake policemen was kidnapped and tortured in retaliation. In France, on November 11, 2022, three people were charged and remanded in custody on charges of drug trafficking, criminal conspiracy, kidnapping and abduction in an organized gang with acts of torture and barbarism. A fourth French national and a man arrested in Spain was extradited to France, then charged and imprisoned.

This European operation takes place in the context of the cocaine market, which is still in full expansion, which has made the port of Antwerp its base and Dubai its rear base. For months, the emirate’s authorities, reluctant to portray themselves as a haven for global hooliganism, have tried to make promises by carrying out the arrests demanded by their European counterparts. From Moufid Bouchibi to Hakim Berebou, several French nationals who have been identified as high-ranking traffickers have been arrested and then extradited in recent months. Other arrests related to other ongoing investigations in Europe have also been made in recent weeks in Dubai. The extradition convention was signed by Belgium at the end of 2021.