Authorities Detail Scope of Operation
Flor Bressers, a Belgian citizen, has appeared in court in Brussels accused of directing a major cocaine-smuggling ring. Prosecutors claim he personally earned about €230m from ten shipments, while Brazilian co-defendant Sérgio Roberto de Carvalho is said to have made roughly €200m. Officials state the 30 individuals facing trial collectively amassed close to €500m through the network.
Investigation Began After Rotterdam Seizure
The case traces back to 2020 when Dutch customs officers discovered 3.2 tonnes of cocaine concealed in a manganese ore shipment at Rotterdam’s port. Authorities say the interception revealed a complex smuggling network moving large volumes of narcotics across European ports. Security considerations led to the trial being relocated from Bruges to the fortified Justitia court in Brussels.
Defendants Arrested Across Borders
Bressers was taken into custody in Zurich in February 2022 before being extradited to Belgium later that year, while De Carvalho was arrested in Hungary in 2023. Among the accused are a Dutch lawyer and a former London banker, both charged with laundering proceeds from the operation. Defence teams are expected to dispute the prosecution’s calculations and challenge claims that their clients held leadership positions within the group.
