© picture alliance / Zoonar | Hugo Kurk
Drug criminal Flamur S. struck a deal with the Belgian federal prosecutor's office through a so-called Prior Recognition of Guilt (VES). In exchange for his admission of guilt and a payment of 1.5 million euros, he received a lenient sentence of five years in prison, two of which were effective. Due to the fact that he had been in extradition detention for some time, he was released immediately after the court approved the deal.
Flamur S., an experienced player in the cocaine trade, was involved in a major drug investigation involving Flor Bressers and the smuggling of cocaine through Antwerp. Among other things, he allegedly recruited outliers to take drugs from containers. More than 3 tons of cocaine were seized in the case in 2020.
The Albanian, previously convicted of drug trafficking, had fled to Turkey, where he had obtained citizenship in order to avoid extradition. After that nationality was revoked, he was able to be surrendered to Belgium. He is the first major figure from the drug world to make such a deal with the public prosecutor's office. The amount of 1.5 million euros corresponds to the fine he would have received and a forfeiture of goods.
In 2010, the Albanian had previously been sentenced to 10 years in prison in a drug case. Normally, Flamur S. would have stood trial in September for the Flor Bressers case. The agreement between the Albanian drug trafficker from Antwerp and the Belgian prosecutor's office was approved on Friday by the correctional court in Bruges.
Picture: © picture alliance / Zoonar | Hugo Kurk