2024-01-02 14:35:00
A private jet from Dubai landed at Zaventem airport on December 30. On board was the first drug criminal extradited from the United Arab Emirates to Belgium. Justice had to rent this very expensive jet at its own expense. An attempt to board the man on a regular KLM flight failed, as the pilot refused to board him for security reasons.
This is Franc G. who is an Albanian drug lord. On site, members of the federal judicial police were waiting for him. He got off the plane handcuffed and hooded. Moments later he was taken to the police office.
A murder in Molenbeek in 2020
The man in question was allegedly involved in 9 contract killings in the Albanian drug scene. One of them took place on November 27, 2020 in Molenbeek-Saint-Jean. That day, a member of a rival drug clan was killed in broad daylight with 18 bullets.
Franc will have to appear before the Assize Court for this murder. “It would be a settling of scores in the Albanian drug scene.” says Paul Van Tigchelt, Minister of Justice.
Aged 31, Franc has until now led a discreet existence in Dubai despite the criminal activities he carried out there. In fact, he headed an international cocaine trafficking network there with branches in Belgium. This is the very first extradition organized between the United Arab Emirates and Belgium.
“This extradition was possible thanks to close collaboration between the Federal Prosecutor’s Office and the FPS Justice, the FPS Foreign Affairs and frequent contacts with the competent authorities of the United Arab Emirates,” specifies the federal prosecutor’s office.
We will not accept impunity
The previous Minister of Justice Vincent Van Quickenborne (Open VLD) signed an extradition treaty with the United Arab Emirates two years ago. It was said at the time that this treaty should ultimately make it possible to extradite to Belgium a certain number of key figures in the investigation into Sky ECC encrypted messaging who were hiding in the United Arab Emirates.
“Let’s be clear: we also want to continue” other suspects who are in the United Arab Emirates, reacted in the evening the current Minister of Justice Paul Van Tigchelt. “Wherever drug criminals reside, we will continue to hunt them down. We will not accept impunity”he commented.
Around twenty other criminals whose extradition was requested by Belgium are currently living in the United Arab Emirates. These are mainly people cited in drug cases.
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