- Safiu Kehinde
Former Iner Milan and Roma footballer, Radja Nainggolan, has been arrested on Monday in connection to an ongoing probe on cocaine trafficking via the port of Antwerp.
As disclosed by the Brussels prosecutor, the Belgian international was arrested alongside other suspected cocaine traffickers during series of morning raid across the country.
According to the prosecutor, the illicit substances are imported from South America to Europe via the port of Antwerp with some ending up distributed in Belgium.
“The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium,” prosecutors added in a statement.
No further details were immediately made public.
According to report, the 36-year-old Antwerp-born Nainggolan came out of retirement last week to join a lower-tier Belgian side — adding a final spell to a long career that saw him play 30 matches and score six goals for the national team.
Having played for Italian teams Cagliari, Inter Milan and Roma, he had been without a club since last summer before signing with Belgian second-tier outfit Lokeren last week.
He marked his debut with a goal at the weekend in Lokeren’s 1-1 home draw to K. Lierse.
He had previously returned from Italy to Belgium in the summer of 2021 to join Royal Antwerp.
A tattooed midfielder known for his off-field antics; he parted ways with Antwerp in early 2023.
A few months earlier he had been suspended for being caught smoking an electronic cigarette on the bench, according to Belgian media.