Former Belgian international Radja Nainggolan was arrested on Monday on suspicion of involvement in international cocaine smuggling through the port of Antwerp, Gazet van Antwerpen reported, citing the prosecutor’s office.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!It is noted that the Brussels police carried out 30 searches on Monday as part of an investigation into the alleged import of cocaine from South America to Europe via the port of Antwerp and its distribution throughout the country. As a result of the search, the 36-year-old midfielder’s car was towed away by the police.
“We can confirm that footballer Radja Nainggolan has been arrested in connection with this case,” the Belgian prosecutor’s office said in a statement.
Nainggolan joined Belgian second division side Lokeren-Thames in January and the club confirmed the player’s absence from training on Monday.
The footballer was previously linked to cocaine smuggling when it emerged that one of his business partners in a private jet company had been convicted of drug trafficking.
Nainggolan is an Italian champion with Inter and a Belgian champion with Antwerp. In his career, he played for Italian Piacenza, Cagliari, Roma, Inter, SPAL and Belgian Antwerp. The midfielder played 30 matches for the Belgian national team.