Belgian Man Faces Seven Years in Prison Over Cocaine Smuggling Case
A 33-year-old man from Antwerp is facing a seven-year prison sentence after prosecutors accused him of being involved in an international cocaine trafficking operation linked to the port of Antwerp.
The Antwerp Public Prosecutor’s Office requested a seven-year sentence for Ilias A., who is accused of arranging the shipment of hundreds of kilograms of cocaine from Ecuador to Belgium.
According to prosecutors, the investigation centers on two shipments in 2020. The first involved 570 kilograms of cocaine hidden among bananas and successfully reached the port of Antwerp.
A second shipment was much larger. Ecuadorian authorities intercepted 800 kilograms of cocaine before the container could leave the country for Antwerp.
Prosecutors say the operation involved people working around the port who were allegedly paid to help remove drug containers. One port employee is accused of changing her vacation plans so she could be available to provide access to a container. Prosecutors say she was offered 150,000 euro for her role.
The case came to light after investigators gained access to encrypted Sky ECC communications. According to the prosecution, messages from the platform helped investigators identify Ilias A. as a leading figure in the alleged organization.
Ilias A. denies any involvement in the cocaine trafficking operation. His lawyers have challenged the way investigators identified him in the encrypted messages and argued that the evidence has been wrongly interpreted.
His defense is asking the court to acquit him. The lawyers also argued that there is not enough evidence to prove that he was the leader of the organization.
The case is being heard before the criminal court in Antwerp, where several other defendants are also facing charges connected to the alleged drug operation.
The investigation has also drawn attention to businesses linked to Ilias A. in Antwerp. He still operates a laundromat, while a tanning salon he previously owned has since been sold.
The prosecution is seeking seven years in prison, but no final verdict has been announced. The court will ultimately decide whether the accusations against Ilias A. have been proven.
