Dubai Extradites Key Antwerp Drug Kingpin: ’Monte Christo’ Network Crumbles

Mohamed A. was recently arrested by the Dubai police. The Emirati authorities informed Belgium of their willingness to extradite the Antwerp criminal as soon as possible. The drug trafficker arrived in Antwerp by air on Thursday, according to sources from the Gazet van Antwerpen. For the moment, the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office has provided no information on the matter.

Aged 46, Mohamed A. is the former brother-in-law and right-hand man of Youssef ’Benz’ Ben Azza, alias "Monte Christo", one of the biggest cocaine traffickers in Europe. Facing several international arrest warrants, Youssef Ben Azza was in Dubai until recently. According to the latest news, he would have taken refuge in Morocco.

Mohamed A., nicknamed "The Asian", had been sentenced in absentia to five years in prison. The judge considers him as Youssef Ben Azza’s right-hand man, responsible for overseeing the drug trafficking "on the street". Now that he has been extradited to Belgium, Mohamed A. will undoubtedly appeal his default judgment. A new trial will have to be opened to confirm or cancel his initial sentence.