Police arrest Dutch nationals attempting to smuggle drugs out of Antwerp port
Eight people from the Netherlands were arrested last weekend for several attempts to smuggle drugs out of the port of Antwerp. Three of the suspects are minors and one is 13, the East Flanders public prosecutor's office said on Monday.
On Friday night, a 15-year-old boy and a 24-year-old man from the Netherlands were caught at quay 1624 in the port of Antwerp. The minor was brought before the juvenile court and sent to a detention centre. The man was brought before the investigating judge and remanded in custody, the public prosecutor's office said.
Two more people were arrested at the same location on Saturday night. The second break-in prompted customs officers to carry out a more thorough inspection of the quay, which led to the discovery of 58.22kg of cocaine hidden in the engine department of a refridgerated container.
"The arrested suspects are again Dutch nationals, aged 22 and 13," said the East Flanders public prosecutor's office. The adult will be brought before the investigating judge on Monday and the minor before the juvenile judge. The drugs have been seized and will be destroyed.
During the night from Sunday to Monday, police arrested four more Dutch nationals near quay 1624: a 21-year-old woman, a 19-year-old and an 18-year-old man, and a minor. The adults are still being questioned and the minor will be handed over to the juvenile police in Leuven.
Youngest arrest
"Considering that all of them were in the vicinity of quay 1624, it is possible they were looking for the same seized drugs. This will be the subject of further investigation," said the public prosecutor's office.
The arrest of the 13-year-old is particularly noteworthy. As far as is known, he is the youngest suspect ever arrested for such offences in the port of Antwerp. At that age, placement in a closed institution is not yet an option.
In its latest annual report, the Federal Police warned of the growing presence of minors in various forms of crime. In 2024, police arrested 16 minors in the port of Antwerp on suspicion of drug-related offences.
#FlandersNewsService | © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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