Twenty-one arrested in operation against drug smuggling through airline luggage
A joint operation in Belgium, France and the Netherlands resulted in 21 arrests and 27 searches on 30 September. Eurojust published the results on 2 October. Investigators targeted a network suspected of bringing drugs into Europe on commercial flights.
The investigation began with abandoned sports bags containing 30 kilograms of cocaine at Brussels Airport. Eurojust says identifying the passenger led investigators to the network. Members allegedly flew from Africa or the Americas to Europe with drugs in their luggage.
Other people, often recruited through social media, allegedly bought cheap last-minute airline tickets to reach baggage reclaim. They collected the bags and took them to agreed locations, where couriers picked up the drugs. During the investigation, Belgian authorities arrested two further suspects with 55 kilograms of cocaine and 30 kilograms of cannabis.
A joint investigation team at Eurojust connected the Belgian, French and Dutch investigations. The action day yielded more than €57,000 in cash, crypto wallets, eight vehicles and two firearms. Eurojust says the investigation continues with analysis of the seized evidence.
