Cocaine smuggling? Ex-Inter star Nainggolan arrested in drugs raid

Syl Battistuzzi

27.1.2025

Radja Nainggolan when he played for Inter Milan.
Radja Nainggolan when he played for Inter Milan.
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The port in Antwerp is considered a major gateway for cocaine from South America. The Belgian authorities are fighting against it - and have now arrested a well-known footballer.

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  • Former Belgian international Radja Nainggolan has been arrested as part of an investigation into international drug trafficking.
  • According to the Brussels public prosecutor's office, investigations are being carried out into the suspected import of cocaine from South America to Europe via the port of Antwerp and its further distribution in Belgium. The 36-year-old was also arrested in this context.
  • A total of 30 house searches were carried out in the province of Antwerp and in and around Brussels. As the interrogations are still ongoing, no further information is currently available, it was reported. Nainggolan played 30 times for the Belgian national team, and at club level he played for AS Roma and Inter Milan, among others.

Former Belgian international Radja Nainggolan has been arrested as part of an investigation into international drug trafficking. According to the Brussels public prosecutor's office, investigations are being carried out into the suspected import of cocaine from South America to Europe via the port of Antwerp and its further distribution in Belgium. The 36-year-old was also arrested in this context.

A total of 30 house searches were carried out in the province of Antwerp and in and around Brussels. As the interrogations are still ongoing, no further information is currently available, it was reported. Nainggolan played 30 times for the Belgian national team and also played for AS Roma and Inter, among others.

New club points to presumption of innocence

Nainggolan has been under contract with the Belgian second division club KSC Lokeren-Temse since last week. The club announced that it had learned of the investigation into its player from the media. In view of the presumption of innocence, no further comments will be made. "We can only confirm that the player did not take part in training this morning," it said.

Already in the headlines in the past

Nainggolan has hit the headlines in the past because, according to media reports, he lost his driving license for driving under the influence of alcohol. His former club Royal Antwerp once suspended him for smoking an e-cigarette while sitting on the bench.