A group of Albanians has made a fortune selling cannabis and cocaine. The public prosecutor calculated this morning that the gang had earned 147 million euros from its activity, operating from apartments in Antwerp, Linter in Flemish Brabant and Brasschaat. “My client was not even able to pay the 15,000 euro bail,” a lawyer reacted.
By Patrick Lefelon, HLN
Antwerp police stopped the car for inspection. In the trunk was a microwave oven containing 2.2 kilograms of cocaine. The two men in the vehicle were arrested. They have since been sentenced.
However, the investigation continued behind the scenes. Observations of the premises, checking of rubbish bags and data from ANPR cameras provided a wealth of information.
Other locations that the gang used to mix, package and store cocaine were identified. These included apartments on Boterlaarbaan and Museumstraat, a garage on Kronenburgstraat, as well as apartments in Brasschaat and Linter (near Tienen).
Investigators saw the suspects transporting boxes, bringing chemicals such as acetone and ammonia, and inserting a jack into an apartment. It is suspected that it was used to crush blocks of cocaine.
On September 5, the police raided all addresses simultaneously. In Lambermontstraat, where Arvid S. lived, the police found 10.6 kilograms of cocaine and a cocaine block press. The gang’s accounting records were also found.
7 tons of cocaine
During the search in Linter, the police found several microwave ovens where the drug mixture was heated. There was also a chemical stockpile. In the apartment on Museumstraat, 22 kilograms of cannabis and a vacuum cleaner were found. In Verlatstraat, another piece of financial documentation was found.
The prosecutor pieced together all these financial records and came to a startling conclusion. According to him, the gang had sold a total of 6,966 kilograms of cocaine and 191 kilograms of cannabis since 2020.
For each kilogram of cocaine, 21,000 euros were earned. For each kilogram of cannabis, 4,000 euros were earned. In total, this amounts to 147 million euros. The prosecutor is seeking the confiscation of this amount.
He requested sentences of between 40 months and 6 years in prison for the eight defendants. Some of them have been in custody since their arrest in September 2024.
“Paid as a worker”
Some of the defendants pleaded not guilty. One of them was Arban D., who had paid the rent for the apartments. According to lawyer Philip De Cleene, there is no evidence that he traded even a gram of cocaine or cannabis.
Lawyer John Maes also pleaded not guilty for his client Klodjan K. The latter had stayed in the Museumstraat apartment while on holiday in Antwerp. According to the defense, he had no connection to drug trafficking. He owned a restaurant in Spain, from which he earned a good income.
Finally, there was Arvid S. The police had seen him on many occasions near the suspected apartments. Arvid S. did not deny his involvement in cocaine trafficking, but said he knew nothing about selling cannabis.
2,000 euros per month
“I was just an ordinary worker for the drug gang and I received 2,000 euros a month,” he declared.
The millions in profits, according to him, did not end up in his pocket. When the court wanted to release him on bail, he was unable to pay the 15,000 euro bail. For this reason, Arvid S. has been in custody for a year and ten months.
The court will issue a decision after a month.©boldnews