Belgian police conducted new raids Monday against the ‘Ndrangheta, a mafia organization from the southern Italian region of Calabria.
“I can announce to you today that the federal prosecutor’s office today has carried out new searches in our country,” Belgian Justice Minister Vincent Van Quickenborne told reporters at the sidelines of an event to fight drug-related violence in Antwerp, adding that it’s the “second operation” by Belgium against the ‘Ndrangheta.
An earlier mega raid was carried out in May against the mafia organization which, according to Van Quickenborne, accounts for 80 percent of the cocaine imported to Europe.
Eight people were arrested during the most recent searches across Belgium, the federal prosecutor’s office confirmed in a follow-up press release. They are preliminarily charged with drug trafficking and crime organization. Weapons, drugs, money and luxury goods were also seized during the raids, Van Quickenborne said.
One person was arrested in Germany, and Belgium will ask for his extradition.