Radja Nainggolan, a former Serie A champion and retired Belgian international, was arrested on January 28 as part of a sweeping investigation into cocaine trafficking.
The Brussels Federal Police conducted multiple searches, primarily in Antwerp and Brussels, targeting a smuggling operation allegedly using Antwerp’s port to import cocaine from South America.
According to the Brussels public prosecutor’s office, Nainggolan was “deprived of his liberty in connection with this case.”
Authorities have not disclosed further details about his alleged role in the operation.
Former Belgium international Radja Nainggolan has been arrested as part of an investigation into drug trafficking, the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office said. pic.twitter.com/JlJDLtcxlT
— Sky Sports News (@SkySportsNews) January 27, 2025
Nainggolan, 36, had only recently resumed his football career, signing for Lokeren-Temse in Belgium’s second-tier league.
Just last week, he made headlines for scoring directly from a corner kick during his debut.
However, the club has distanced itself from the incident, stating: “The club respects the presumption of innocence and cannot comment further.
The player was absent from training this morning and is not eligible to play in tomorrow’s match against KAS Eupen.”
The midfielder, known for his tenacity and versatility, played for top clubs including Roma and Inter Milan, winning a Serie A title during his career.
However, disciplinary issues have plagued him, such as a 2018 incident with Roma, where he was fined and dropped after posting a video of himself drinking and smoking during a New Year’s Eve celebration.
In 2022, while playing for Royal Antwerp, Nainggolan was suspended for vaping on the team bench, prompting criticism about his professionalism.
Antwerp is now again at the centre of controversy, as it reportedly serves as the key entry point for cocaine from South America into Europe, handling around 300 tonnes of the drug annually.
Nainggolan’s case is the latest in a series of footballers implicated in drug trafficking.
With European ports like Antwerp frequently targeted by criminal networks, the spotlight is once again on athletes who find themselves embroiled in these high-stakes operations.
