FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
16 members of a drug gang face up to five years in prison each at a court in Bruges, Belgium. According to the court, they sold at least 985 kilograms of cocaine, worth 29 million euros.
The key figure is a 29-year-old Albanian living in Ostend. His parents and two brothers are also on trial.
"They looked like a regular family in Ostend," the prosecutor said.
The case is an offshoot of Operation Sky, in which more than a billion messages encrypted by criminal groups were decrypted several years ago. Based on this information, the Bruges Public Prosecutor's Office has identified the 29-year-old Albanian AB. He is said to be the central figure of a gang that trafficked at least 958 kilograms of cocaine, with a total value of nearly 29 million euros.
Since the intercepted conversations indicated that a kidnapping or hostage situation was imminent, the court decided to intervene on February 14, 2023. A. B stated that he was transporting up to 200 kilograms of cocaine at a time for an unknown customer. He also regularly went to Antwerp, where the gang operated from four rental properties. During the house search, firearms ready to be fired were found. But early intervention prevented the gang leaders from being identified.
A. B aged 31 and FB aged 23, brothers of A. B, also appeared to be involved in the trade. As well as their parents G. B 57 years old and F. B 52 years old. In the latter's bed, the police found no less than 56,000 euros in cash.
"Seemed like a good family in Ostend. My mother also held integration courses. The investigation revealed that the parents helped launder drug profits by renovating and reselling the houses," explained prosecutor Yves Segaert-Vanden Bussche.
The gang used first parties to rent properties. Not only in Antwerp, but also in Damme. The main character's girlfriend rented a vacation home there. The pair were allegedly going to spend the holidays there. But in reality the gang allegedly stored cocaine there for two months.
On Monday, the prosecutor requested an effective sentence of five years in prison for AB Vëllezri and his parents risk two and three years in prison, respectively. Five-year prison sentences were requested for 11 other defendants. Also, the prosecutor requested the confiscation of nearly 29 million euros. The defense will not be heard until January 8.
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