Belgian Court Acquits Drug Case Suspects, One Detained in Dubai

A twist in the Antwerp (Belgium) organized crime scene: two men, Imrane E.L. and Ali L., initially sentenced to seven and five years in prison for drug-related attacks, have been acquitted on appeal. The court ruled that there was insufficient evidence to incriminate them.

The case dates back to June 2020, when three attacks targeted the B. family and its entourage in Deurne, Sint-Niklaas and Antwerp. The motive? A cocaine shipment bearing the RM35 stamp that mysteriously disappeared in March 2020, triggering a conflict between the protagonists.

Imrane E.L., 27, from Schoten, was considered one of the masterminds of the attacks. His alleged involvement was largely based on encrypted messages sent via Sky ECC, a messaging service popular with criminals, especially those linked to the Mocro Maffia. The prosecution suspected him of hiding behind the pseudonym "Boss Backup" and orchestrating the attacks.

However, the court of appeal was not convinced by the evidence. It notably highlighted flaws in the identification of Imrane E.L. His lawyer, Jorgen Van Laer, welcomed the acquittal: "We were able to refute various elements of the identification and demonstrate to the court that it was not correct."

Ali L., 26, from Ranst, was also acquitted. The court praised his cooperation with the investigation and the lack of concrete evidence of his involvement in the criminal organization.

While the Belgian justice system has rendered its verdict, the case is not yet over for Imrane E.L. The latter, who never attended the trial, is currently in prison in Dubai. He had gone to the United Arab Emirates after his acquittal using a fake passport and was arrested.

Belgium could request the extradition of Imrane E.L. so that he can serve a four-year prison sentence previously handed down for cocaine trafficking. The Antwerp public prosecutor’s office is currently examining the possibility of such a step.