Dangerous Fugitive Arrested in Brussels: Moroccan Kickboxer Wanted for Murder and Drug Crimes

Elements of the Belgian police in collaboration with their Dutch counterparts succeeded, last Thursday, in locating and arresting Youssef Ben Hamou, a 26-year-old Moroccan, involved in a shooting related to drug trafficking that occurred in Almere, the Netherlands, in December 2019, reports Belga. This shooting had claimed the life of Ray Tensaini, 35. Accompanied by his half-brother, this man from Utrecht had gone to a house to sell drugs to Youssef Ben Hamou, his brother-in-arms. But the operation had turned into a tragedy.

The Dutch police had arrested the victim’s half-brother, who got away wounded. He had a relatively small amount of cocaine in his possession. He will be released. A suspect, El M., aged 21, had also been arrested. As for Ben Hamou, he had fled. Since then, the Dutch authorities had issued a wanted notice to find him. In early 2021, the court sentenced the fugitive in absentia to 14 years in prison. The same sentence was imposed on El M., who had failed to escape.

Ben Hamou resisted arrest before being overpowered by the Belgian police. The Dutch authorities are now demanding his extradition to the Netherlands.