Belgium Seeks Extradition of Drug Kingpin ’Black’ from Turkey

Abdelilah El Messaoudi, 38, was arrested by the Turkish police in Istanbul and the Belgian justice system launched the extradition procedure on Thursday, said Kristof Aerts of the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office. It remains to be seen whether Turkey will be able to easily extradite El Messaoudi to Belgium, as he has dual Belgian and Moroccan nationality.

His nephew Karim E. M., 37, nicknamed Madonna, who was also arrested, is involved in a major drug case after the Sky ECC operation, the trial of which has been suspended for a procedural issue.

Moreover, Belgium’s refusal to extradite Ferhye Erdal, one of Turkey’s main political opponents, could block the extradition of Abdelilah. Turkey has unsuccessfully demanded the extradition of the latter to have her tried in her own country, after her arrest and conviction in absentia in Belgium to 15 years in prison for the murder of a Turkish businessman.