Kidnapped Antwerp Man Released After Month in Captivity

A 49-year-old Moroccan man from Antwerp was released after spending about a month in captivity following a kidnapping linked to a missing cocaine shipment at the Port of Antwerp.

Mohamed Azzaoui was abducted by armed men at a highway service station in Waarloos, along the E19 motorway, on February 22, 2023. He was released in late March and found in good physical condition, according to reports published at the time.

The kidnapping was linked to the disappearance of approximately 1.2 tons of cocaine worth an estimated 25 million euros. Investigators suspected that the abductors believed Azzaoui was involved in the missing shipment.

Why Was Mohamed Azzaoui Kidnapped?

The case began after a large quantity of cocaine reportedly disappeared from a container shipment handled through the Port of Antwerp in February 2023.

The drugs were reportedly transported aboard a container ship operated by Grimaldi Lines. Criminals suspected of organizing the shipment allegedly believed that Azzaoui knew who had taken the cocaine.

On the evening of February 22, Azzaoui went to a meeting at the Waarloos highway service area. According to investigators, several masked men overpowered him, forced him into a black Volkswagen Golf and drove away toward Antwerp.

The investigation suggested that he was initially taken to an area near Wommelgem or Borsbeek before being moved to other locations.

The case was linked by investigators and media reports to an alleged Serbian criminal network operating in the international drug trade. However, details about the individual suspects and their respective roles were part of an ongoing criminal investigation.

Missing Cocaine Worth an Estimated 25 Million Euros

The disappearance of the cocaine shipment triggered tensions within criminal networks connected to Antwerp’s drug trade.

During his captivity, a video circulated showing Azzaoui handcuffed and speaking about the missing drugs. In the recording, he denied responsibility and named two individuals known by the nicknames King and Smiley, whom he accused of taking the cocaine.

These allegations were made in a video recorded while he was being held captive and should not be treated as proof of criminal responsibility.

The missing shipment was estimated to be worth around 25 million euros, highlighting the enormous financial stakes involved in the dispute.

Bomb Attacks and Violence Linked to the Dispute

The kidnapping was followed by a series of violent incidents involving properties reportedly connected to people mentioned in the dispute.

Explosions and attacks were reported in Antwerp, Mechelen and other locations, including an attack on the Wok & Chicken Style restaurant in Wilrijk.

Investigators examined whether these incidents were connected to the kidnapping and the missing cocaine shipment. At the time, authorities cautioned that the precise links between the different attacks still had to be established.

The incidents illustrated how disputes over drug shipments can spill over into residential neighborhoods and affect people who may not be directly involved in the underlying criminal activity.

Why Were the Kidnappers Reportedly Holding the Wrong Man?

According to reports citing sources close to Azzaoui, the abductors eventually realized that they had confused him with another person connected to the missing cocaine.

The confusion reportedly involved the ownership of two restaurants. The kidnappers allegedly believed Azzaoui owned Wok & Chicken Style in Wilrijk, but he was associated with a different restaurant near Antwerp South.

The Wilrijk restaurant was reportedly connected to a relative of a man known as King, one of the individuals named in the video about the missing drugs.

Once the abductors reportedly realized their mistake, they decided to release Azzaoui.

Sources close to him said that he had been treated relatively well during his captivity and that no ransom had been paid. These details were reported by the media but were not all independently confirmed by the authorities.

Where Was Mohamed Azzaoui Released?

According to reports published on March 28, 2023, Azzaoui was released in the Netherlands.

His captors reportedly left him blindfolded on a street, where he was able to reunite with his family. Reports said he was in good physical condition, although he had sustained minor injuries during the kidnapping.

The Belgian authorities had previously issued a public appeal for information after investigators failed to locate him during the initial search.

His release brought an end to approximately one month of captivity, but the criminal investigation continued.

Investigation Continued After His Release

The case did not end when Azzaoui was freed. Belgian investigators continued investigating the kidnapping and the people suspected of involvement.

In February 2024, Nieuwsblad reported that a 32-year-old man from Marseille, France, had been extradited to Belgium and arrested on suspicion of hostage-taking in connection with the case.

The arrest was a further development in the investigation, but an arrest on suspicion of a crime does not establish guilt.

The kidnapping remains an example of the violent disputes that can arise around large cocaine shipments moving through the Port of Antwerp, one of Europe’s major entry points for illicit drugs.