Prosecutors Claim Vast Criminal Earnings
Flor Bressers, a Belgian national, has appeared in a Brussels courtroom as authorities accuse him of leading a sprawling cocaine-trafficking network. Prosecutors allege Bressers earned approximately €230m from ten shipments, while Brazilian co-defendant Sérgio Roberto de Carvalho is said to have gained around €200m. Officials contend the 30 defendants on trial collectively amassed nearly €500m in illicit proceeds.
Rotterdam Seizure Sparked Investigation
The case follows a 2020 interception in Rotterdam, where customs officers discovered 3.2 tonnes of cocaine hidden in a manganese ore shipment. Investigators say the find revealed a wider network responsible for moving large quantities of cocaine into Europe. Security concerns prompted the relocation of the trial from Bruges to the fortified Justitia complex in Brussels.
Defendants Apprehended Across Europe
Bressers was arrested in Zurich in February 2022 and extradited to Belgium later that year, while De Carvalho was detained in Hungary in 2023. The list of accused also includes a Dutch lawyer and a former London banker, both charged with laundering illicit funds. Defence lawyers are expected to contest the prosecution’s financial estimates and dispute allegations of leadership within the organisation.
