July 8, 2026
A 21-year-old Albanian, identified as Arlind K., has requested a retrial in Belgium after being sentenced in absentia to 15 months in prison and a fine, on charges of involvement in the distribution of narcotics.
The young man did not appear at the court hearing on February 13, which led to the verdict being handed down in absentia. He has now appealed the sentence and is seeking a retrial.
According to the prosecution, Arlind K. was stopped on August 3, 2024 during a routine check for a violation of the Highway Code. His behavior and that of his passenger, who appeared extremely nervous, prompted the police to conduct a more detailed check of the vehicle.
During the search, officers found approximately 140 grams of cannabis and hashish, divided into three bags and hidden under the driver’s seat.
The prosecution claims that investigations revealed that the young man had been acting as a courier for a drug trafficking ring for weeks. According to the indictment, messages with addresses for the delivery of narcotics were found on his phone, as well as photos and videos showing drugs, money and the defendant himself.
However, the defense presented a completely different version of events. His lawyer stated that the client works as a barber and that on the day of his arrest he had agreed to cut the hair of a random acquaintance, who then asked him to drive the vehicle under the pretext that he had consumed cannabis.
According to her, there is not sufficient evidence that Arlind K. benefited financially or was part of a criminal organization.
During the hearing, the 21-year-old himself denied the allegations.
“I work as a barber. I’ve even built up my own clientele in Antwerp,” he declared through a translator.
The presiding judge reacted with irony, saying:
“I’ve never heard of anyone ordering 140 grams of cannabis from a barber.”
In response, the Albanian insisted that the phone containing the messages was not his, but that of the passenger in the car, while adding that he has the equipment and tools that prove his profession as a barber.
The court’s final decision is expected to be announced on July 14.
Note: Any person who may be mentioned in the content of this article, based on the criminal procedural and universal principle of the presumption of innocence, is considered criminally innocent, unless or until there is a final decision.
Note: In some news stories, images are found from the internet, which are considered to be in the public domain. If anyone claims ownership, we will cite the author, or, upon request, immediately remove the image.