Former Belgium international Radja Nainggolan arrested in cocaine trafficking probe

Former Belgium international Radja Nainggolan has been arrested as part of a wider investigation into cocaine trafficking into Europe from south America, the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office said.

Brussels federal police carried out thirty searches on Monday morning, mainly in the province of Antwerp and in and around Brussels as part of the investigation, seizing 2.7 kilos (nearly 6 lbs) of cocaine along with cash and a large number of luxury items.

The Brussels public prosecutor’s office confirmed that the soccer player was “deprived of his liberty in connection with this case.” Prosecutors later said that 16 people were arrested in total.

The probe focuses on the alleged importation of cocaine from South America via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium, the office said.

During the searches, police officers seized more than 370,000 euros ($389.000) in cash, several luxury watches — including two with a value of 360,000 euros each — jewelry, and a hundred gold coins worth more than 116,000 euros. Investigators also found two bulletproof vests and three firearms.

After several months without a club, Nainggolan came out of retirement to play second-tier Belgian side Lokeren-Temse. He celebrated his debut with a goal straight from a corner kick last weekend.

His new team said in a statement that it only found out about his arrest from media reports.

“The club respects the presumption of innocence and therefore cannot comment further,” it said. “We can only confirm that the player was absent from training this morning. The club will continue to focus on tomorrow’s crucial league match against KAS Eupen. Radja Nainggolan is not eligible to play in that match anyway.”

The 36-year-old Nainggolan has made 30 appearances for Belgium but has not played for the Red Devils since March 2018.

Known for his fiery character, the central midfielder spent most of his career in Italy, notably playing for Roma and Inter Milan.

Nainggolan had several disciplinary issues throughout his career. When he played for Roma in 2018, he was fined and dropped from the squad for a match after a series of apparently drunken postings live on Instagram on New Year’s Eve.

When he played for Royal Antwerp in 2022, he was suspended after he was caught smoking an electronic cigarette on the bench. The Belgian club at the time also mentioned how his behavior could negatively affect the squad.

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Samuel Petrequin, The Associated Press