2023-04-28 16:27:00
The Charleroi public prosecutor’s office confirmed Friday at the end of the afternoon during a press conference with the federal judicial police the indictment of 22 people arrested during a vast police operation carried out in Charleroi and Liège on Wednesday. A criminal organization and twelve cannabis plantations were dismantled during 44 searches carried out simultaneously by 600 police officers.
Forty-two searches carried out in Charleroi and two others in Liège led to the arrest of several dozen illegal residents on Wednesday morning as part of a vast police operation carried out by the Federal Judicial Police (PJF) of Charleroi. 600 agents have been deployed in the field. “There was the reinforcement of police officers from Eupen, Brussels and special units. We succeeded in executing all the search warrants while ensuring the safety of our men and the suspects. This is the largest police operation carried out in Charleroi and one of the largest carried out for several years in Wallonia.“, said Eric Snoeck, director general of the federal judicial police.
22 arrests
The investigation carried out for almost a year has led to the discovery of twelve cannabis plantations, including ten in Charleroi. “22 of those arrested were placed under arrest warrant for criminal organization, cultivation and possession of cannabis. Possession of weapons was also held against some“, said Vincent Fiasse, public prosecutor. Ten of the accused appeared Friday morning before the Charleroi council chamber and the twelve others will appear on Tuesday.
Many seizures
The police made various seizures:
- Many clothes, bags, luxury watches
- Over €100,000 in cash
- 14 vehicles, including several high-end or luxury vehicles
- Several tens of kilos of cannabis flowers
- Various handguns and an assault rifle
Money was seized for a value of 100,000 euros, as well as several luxury items (clothes, bags, luxury watches), fourteen vehicles, and several tens of kilos of cannabis flowers. “The investigation will continue. The federal police are to be commended for the operation. Huge resources have been deployed and the results are there“, concluded the Charleroi prosecutor’s office.