The extradition of this powerful drug trafficker was made possible thanks to the extradition treaty between Belgium and the United Arab Emirates, signed in December 2021 and entered into force in November 2022. “There is today an in -depth and constructive collaboration with the United Arab Emirates. Three ‘High Value Targets’ are therefore on the way to the United Arab Emirates to our country in order to be tried and punished, “said Annelies Verlinden, the Belgian justice minister.
To read: a baron of drugs of Moroccan origin arrested in Dubai, extradited
“We do not want drug traffickers to take refuge in places where they lead a luxurious life with impunity. The absence of extradition treaties and the possibility of investing anonymously in real estate have long allowed these criminals to escape justice. They built a luxurious life there while they are wanted, prosecuted or convicted in Belgium for large-scale drug trafficking, often linked to the port of Antwerp, “she added.
To read: a baron of drugs of Moroccan origin arrested in Dubai
Othman El Ballouti was arrested at the end of 2024 in Dubai. The hacking of the encryption Sky ECC he used to communicate with the other members of its network, revealed the existence of networks of international drug traffickers, including Antwerpois. The drug trafficker was sentenced last September to seven years in prison for having introduced 840 kilos of cocaine in Belgium via the port of Antwerp. He had also received 20 years in prison for a cargo of 11 tonnes seized in 2021, recalls Free.
Read: Othman El Ballluti: itinerary of a narcotic trading who has become a businessman in Dubai
These networks are also specialized in money laundering and organized crime. They have invested millions of euros in real estate in the Middle East, through screens, making it difficult to trace criminal assets. “The extradition of these criminals is much more than a simple step in criminal procedure. […] Cooperation between Belgium and the United Arab Emirates proves that diplomacy, technology and legal coordination are powerful tools to combat organized crime, “said Annelies Verlinden.
