Antwerp (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – The Antwerp Court of Appeal found 8 drug gang members guilty of kidnapping and torture offences in February 2023, leading to 17-year prison sentences.
A drug gang involving 8 members received 17 years of imprisonment combined from the Antwerp Court of Appeal following their roles in the kidnapping and torture of a Dutch individual. Court authorities delivered their ruling in line with previous decisions regarding kidnapping and torture convictions but dismissed attempted murder charges because the evidence proved insufficient. One of the victims, who belonged to a gang that had stolen cocaine from his attackers, lay seriously wounded throughout Ravels’ streets after the attackers left him there. Belgium faces continuing drug-based violence that influenced the judicial decision.
A 37-year-old Dutch citizen experienced kidnapping at the hands of gang members from Eindhoven in February 2023. The man was forcibly put into a van where members threatened to administer beatings and killings. The gang’s motive stemmed from the victim’s involvement in stealing 75 blocks of cocaine from them.
After his abduction, the victim was moved among several destinations until finally arriving at a Wilrijk warehouse, where he suffered extreme physical abuse. A victim’s torture lasted when two Spanish clients watched a live stream of the events while giving additional orders to the attackers, who used ammonia on his wounds before cutting off one of his fingers.
The group planned to transport the victim for execution when they ran into car problems in Ravels, so they disposed of him inside the van. The investigation uncovered 13 suspects who ended up in court, and eleven among them received convictions for their involvement in the kidnapping and torture scheme.
The Court of Appeal, along with the first judicial authority, rejected the attempt by the Attorney General to lengthen prison terms because they found evidence insufficient to support the attempted murder charge. The two clients were sentenced to 17-year terms, but six other defendants received prison sentences ranging between 5 and 12 years. Three defendants were acquitted.
What factors contribute to drug-related violence in Belgium?
The case presents current challenges concerning drug-related violence both in Belgium and throughout Europe. Drug gangs make kidnapping and subjecting individuals to torture their preferred methods to maintain authority and resolve conflicts within their criminal operations.
Belgium experienced a concerning surge in drug-related events because drug-related murders in the country grew approximately 30% between 2017 and 2021. Organised crime groups operating in the Antwerp region have intensified cocaine trafficking activities, creating a volatile environment for rival criminal factions to fight with violence.
European crime statistics demonstrate cocaine trafficking has become the most prominent type of drug trafficking in the region. The Belgian law enforcement system reports progressively rising drug-related violence in recent times, which has led Belgian authorities to demand intensified national security protocols and multinational cooperation to combat organised crime effectively.
