29 January 2025
The public prosecutor's office in Brussels announced the arrest of former Belgian international player Radja Nainggolan on Monday, as part of an investigation led by a judge in the capital, regarding cocaine smuggling through the port of Antwerp. According to the BBC, Nainggolan, 36, was arrested, along with a number of other suspects, on Monday morning, after a series of raids carried out by Belgian police across the country.
A spokesman for the prosecutor's office in Brussels confirmed in an official statement that the matter concerns Radja Nainggolan, who returned from his retirement from football to play last week, adding: "The investigation led by the investigating judge in Brussels concerns the alleged importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium. We promise to provide more details when the hearings are over, and the investigating judge is able to hear the suspects." The British network indicated that no additional information has been disclosed to the public so far.
The arrest comes just six days after Nainggolan came out of retirement and signed for Belgian second division club Lokeren.
Nainggolan scored a goal this week in his first match with his new team against Lierse, which ended in a 1-1 draw, with a direct shot from a corner kick. After returning from Italy to Belgium in the summer of 2021 to join Royal Antwerp, Nainggolan parted ways with his club in early 2023 due to misconduct.
The Belgian was suspended from playing a few months ago after being caught smoking an e-cigarette on the bench, according to Belgian media.
It is worth noting that Radja Nainggolan was born in Antwerp and spent most of his professional career in Italy, where he played for both Roma and Inter Milan.
The Belgian international played for his country's national team between 2009 and 2018, and participated in 30 matches with the "Red Devils" and scored six goals.
