Drug trafficker sentenced in absentia arrested in Molenbeek after five years on the run
A man sentenced in absentia to seven years' imprisonment in France in 2022 was arrested on 11 November 2026 in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. He had been a fugitive for five years.
Internationally wanted fugitive arrested in Brussels municipality
A man who had been sought by French authorities for five years was arrested in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. This is reported by vrt.be on the basis of information from the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office.
The Dijon criminal court sentenced the man in absentia in 2022 to seven years' imprisonment for drug trafficking, money laundering from the proceeds of drug trafficking and participation in a criminal organisation. He had been officially a fugitive since 2021.
An earlier arrest in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates, yielded nothing: his extradition to France could not be realised at that time. In 2025 the man was added to the French national list of most wanted fugitives.
New information made it possible in July 2026 to resume the search. The search proved difficult due to the suspect's mobility, his international movements and the logistical means he deployed to evade justice, according to the prosecutor.
Several specialised French police services were involved in the investigation. They received assistance from Morocco, Spain, Germany, the Netherlands and Belgium. In early November 2026 the investigation focused on the Brussels region.
Under the authority of the Brussels Public Prosecutor's Office, FAST Belgium — the Belgian specialised unit for the apprehension of fugitives — deployed substantial operational resources. On 11 November 2026 at 12.15 hours the man was located in a rented flat in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and arrested on the spot.
The man is currently remanded in custody pending his extradition to French authorities. In France he retains the right to lodge an objection to his sentence in absentia.
Source: Google News BE NL