An image of Othman El Ballouti previously shared by Dubai Police. Photo: Dubai Police
An image of Othman El Ballouti previously shared by Dubai Police. Photo: Dubai Police
An image of Othman El Ballouti previously shared by Dubai Police. Photo: Dubai Police
An image of Othman El Ballouti previously shared by Dubai Police. Photo: Dubai Police

Dubai Police extradite three alleged crime bosses facing drug and human trafficking charges in Belgium


  • English
  • Arabic

Dubai Police have arrested and extradited three alleged Belgian crime gang leaders facing human and drug trafficking charges in their home country.

The three suspects – Mathias Akyazili, Giorgi Faes and Othman El Ballouti – were listed in the most-wanted category by Interpol and the EU's Europol.

Dubai Media Office said on Sunday that the three men were held based on Interpol red notices issued against them, in an operation carried out by police in Dubai in close co-ordination with international law enforcement agencies.

The trio have been handed over to Belgian authorities, where they are accused of serious cross-border crimes, including operating a gang, trafficking narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, committing robbery and engaging in human trafficking.

El Ballouti was placed under sanctions by the US government in July 2023 on suspicion of international drug trafficking.

The US Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control claims he oversaw an international crime network responsible for smuggling “significant quantities of cocaine via shipping containers through the Port of Antwerp in Belgium for wider distribution throughout Europe”.

The three suspects who were extradited to Belgium. Photo: Dubai Media Office
The three suspects who were extradited to Belgium. Photo: Dubai Media Office

Dubai Police previously announced his arrest in connection with international organised crime and drug trafficking in December last year.

The Belga News Agency in Belgium said at the time that his arrest represented a breakthrough in efforts by the country to target drug lords operating abroad.

It said that in 2024, El Ballouti had been sentenced in his absence to seven years imprisonment for trafficking 840kg of cocaine.

His extradition, and those of his two fellow suspects, followed a Dubai Police investigation was conducted in co-ordination with the Ministry of Interior and led by the General Department of Criminal Investigation.

It came after an international arrest warrant was submitted by Belgian authorities to the International Co-operation Department at the UAE Ministry of Justice.

“All required legal and judicial formalities were duly complied with before proceeding with the extradition request,” Dubai Media Office said.

Dubai Police emphasised its commitment to supporting efforts to build a strong global security network to combat criminal activity.

Fighting organised crime

Abdullah Al Nuaimi, the UAE's Minister of Justice, spoke by phone with Annelies Verlinden, Belgium's Minister of Justice, after an aircraft carrying the three wanted men arrived in Belgium.

The suspects were extradited under rulings issued by the Dubai Court of Cassation, in line with bilateral agreements in place between the Emirates and Belgium.

An extradition treaty was agreed between the countries in December 2021 and came into force the following November.

Both ministers said co-operation demonstrated the commitment of both nations to the fight against organised crime and drugs-related violence and to ensuring those accused of serious offences are brought to justice.

Winners

Ballon d’Or (Men’s)
Ousmane Dembélé (Paris Saint-Germain / France)

Ballon d’Or Féminin (Women’s)
Aitana Bonmatí (Barcelona / Spain)

Kopa Trophy (Best player under 21 – Men’s)
Lamine Yamal (Barcelona / Spain)

Best Young Women’s Player
Vicky López (Barcelona / Spain)

Yashin Trophy (Best Goalkeeper – Men’s)
Gianluigi Donnarumma (Paris Saint-Germain and Manchester City / Italy)

Best Women’s Goalkeeper
Hannah Hampton (England / Aston Villa and Chelsea)

Men’s Coach of the Year
Luis Enrique (Paris Saint-Germain)

Women’s Coach of the Year
Sarina Wiegman (England)

Hunger and Fury: The Crisis of Democracy in the Balkans
Jasmin Mujanović, Hurst Publishers

The specs

Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors

Power: Combined output 920hp

Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm

Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic

Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km

On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025

Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000

Updated: July 14, 2025, 11:42 AM