One of Belgium’s most notorious international drug traffickers, Othman El Ballouti, has been arrested in Dubai after an extensive international manhunt, Dubai Police confirmed on December 9.
The arrest came at the request of Belgian authorities, who had issued an international red notice for El Ballouti’s involvement in transnational organized crime and drug trafficking. He is accused of orchestrating a major drug smuggling operation through the Belgian port of Antwerp, a key gateway for drug trafficking into Europe, and has been the target of US sanctions.
El Ballouti, listed on Interpol and Europol’s wanted lists, was apprehended following a precise operation conducted by law enforcement in collaboration with the UAE Ministry of Justice’s International Cooperation Department, which oversees extradition requests.
A Belgian judicial source told AFP on December 3, “We obtained his arrest, and we will now pursue his extradition,” confirming that Brussels is seeking to bring him to Belgium to face charges.
Dubai Police announced that El Ballouti has been referred to the Dubai Public Prosecution for legal proceedings related to his extradition. Belgium and the UAE signed an extradition agreement in 2021, facilitating such cooperation.
“There are multiple cases for which Belgium is requesting his extradition,” the source added. El Ballouti is a prominent figure in Belgium’s criminal underworld, and last year, his 11-year-old niece was tragically killed in a shooting in Antwerp linked to gang violence.
In 2022, the US Treasury imposed sanctions on El Ballouti for allegedly leading an “international criminal organization” involved in drug trafficking and money laundering. His network is accused of smuggling large quantities of cocaine via shipping containers through the Port of Antwerp for distribution across Europe. His younger brother and an associate were also sanctioned by the US.
Antwerp’s port remains a major hub for drugs smuggled from South America into Europe, with cocaine seizures reaching a record 116 tonnes last year. Drug busts at the port are frequent as authorities combat its use in organized crime operations