News Africa

International operation arrests 10 people after record drug busts

Ten people were arrested in Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands this week, in connection with major drug hauls in 2021, worth an estimated €910 million ($990 million).

The Belgian public prosecutor’s office announced the arrests on Thursday. Five men in Belgium, aged between 27 and 38 years old, were arrested after six houses were raided on Wednesday.

Authorities also conducted 40 searches in Germany and the Netherlands, of properties linked to the same multinational drug smuggling operation.

The investigation is linked to several record drug busts in Europe last year, after police cracked encrypted communications the gang sent using Sky ECC messaging services.

In February 2021, 16 tons of cocaine was discovered in Hamburg, Germany. The same month, 7.7 tons of cocaine was seized in Antwerp, Belgium.

In April that year, another 10.9 tons of cocaine was discovered in the Belgian port city. Authorities seized nearly 35 tons of cocaine in total during the course of the investigation.

The Belgian public prosecutor’s office said the collective drug seizures have an estimated street value of €910 million. The intercepted containers arrived to Antwerp from Panama.

Based on the decrypted messages and intercepted drug shipments, investigators believe the clients of the multinational drug smuggling operation are based in Dubai.

Source: GNA

Ogyem Solomon

Solomon Ogyem – Media Entrepreneur | Journalist | Brand Ambassador Solomon Ogyem is a dynamic Ghanaian journalist and media entrepreneur currently based in South Africa. With a solid foundation in journalism, Solomon is a graduate of the OTEC School of Journalism and Communication Studies in Ghana and Oxbridge Academy in South Africa. He began his career as a reporter at OTEC 102.9 MHz in Kumasi, where he honed his skills in news reporting, community storytelling, and radio broadcasting. His passion for storytelling and dedication to the media industry led him to establish Press MltiMedia Company in South Africa—a growing platform committed to authentic African narratives and multimedia journalism. Solomon is the founder and owner of Thepressradio.com, a news portal focused on delivering credible, timely, and engaging stories across Ghana and Africa. He also owns Press Global Tickets, a service-driven venture in the travel and logistics space, providing reliable ticketing services. He previously owned two notable websites—Ghanaweb.mobi and ShowbizAfrica.net—both of which contributed to entertainment and socio-political discussions within Ghana’s digital space. With a diverse background in media, digital journalism, and business, Solomon Ogyem is dedicated to telling impactful African stories, empowering youth through media, and building cross-continental media partnerships.

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