Former Belgium international Radja Nainggolan has been arrested as part of a wider investigation into cocaine trafficking into Europe from south America, the Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office said.
Brussels federal police carried out thirty searches on Monday morning, mainly in the province of Antwerp and in and around Brussels as part of the investigation, seizing 2.7 kilos (nearly 6 lbs) of cocaine along with cash and a large number of luxury items.
The Brussels public prosecutor’s office confirmed that the soccer player was “deprived of his liberty in connection with this case.” Prosecutors later said that 16 people were arrested in total.
The probe focuses on the alleged importation of cocaine from South America via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium, the office said.
During the searches, police officers seized more than 370,000 euros ($389.000) in cash, several luxury watches — including two with a value of 360,000 euros each — jewelry, and a hundred gold coins worth more than 116,000 euros. Investigators also found two bulletproof vests and three firearms.
After several months without a club, Nainggolan came out of retirement to play second-tier Belgian side Lokeren-Temse. He celebrated his debut with a goal straight from a corner kick last weekend.
His new team said in a statement that it only found out about his arrest from media reports.
“The club respects the presumption of innocence and therefore cannot comment further,” it said. “We can only confirm that the player was absent from training this morning. The club will continue to focus on tomorrow’s crucial league match against KAS Eupen. Radja Nainggolan is not eligible to play in that match anyway.”
The 36-year-old Nainggolan has made 30 appearances for Belgium but has not played for the Red Devils since March 2018.
Known for his fiery character, the central midfielder spent most of his career in Italy, notably playing for Roma and Inter Milan.
Nainggolan had several disciplinary issues throughout his career. When he played for Roma in 2018, he was fined and dropped from the squad for a match after a series of apparently drunken postings live on Instagram on New Year’s Eve.
When he played for Royal Antwerp in 2022, he was suspended after he was caught smoking an electronic cigarette on the bench. The Belgian club at the time also mentioned how his behavior could negatively affect the squad.
FILE - Frankfurt's Daichi Kamada, left, goes up against Royal Antwerp's Radja Nainggolan during the Europa League group D soccer match between Royal Antwerp and Frankfurt at the Bosuil Stadium in Deurne, Belgium, Sept. 30, 2021. (AP Photo/Olivier Matthys, File)
CHICAGO (AP) — Pete Crow-Armstrong homered and drove in a career-high six runs, helping the Chicago Cubs beat the Chicago White Sox 13-3 on Friday in the first meeting of the season between the crosstown rivals.
Seiya Suzuki had two hits and two RBIs for the NL Central-leading Cubs on a warm and windy afternoon at Wrigley Field. Nico Hoerner scored three times, and Cade Horton (2-0) pitched five innings of three-run ball in his first career start.
The Cubs earned their sixth consecutive win against the White Sox, matching a franchise record for the series.
Miguel Vargas went deep twice for the White Sox in his first career multihomer game. He also matched a career high with four hits.
Vargas connected for a two-run drive in the first and a solo drive in the third. But the Cubs went ahead to stay with six runs in the second against Shane Smith (1-3).
With one out and runners on second and third, Michael Busch used a nifty slide to score on Moisés Ballesteros' chopper to first baseman Andrew Vaughn. Hoerner then hit a grounder to shortstop Chase Meidroth, who made a strong throw to the plate that was dropped by catcher Matt Thaiss for an error.
After Jon Berti struck out looking, Crow-Armstrong hit a three-run drive to right for his 12th homer. Suzuki tacked on an RBI double for a 6-2 lead.
Smith was charged with one earned run and seven hits in five innings. The rookie right-hander struck out five and walked one.
Crow-Armstrong also drove in Hoerner with a wind-aided single in the sixth, and then singled home two more runs in the seventh for a 10-3 lead.
Ballesteros hit an RBI single in the eighth for his first hit in his second major league game.
Smith has surrendered two homers in 48 1/3 innings in his first big league season. He allowed a three-run shot by Boston's Rafael Devers on April 19.
White Sox right-hander Sean Burke (2-4, 4.15 ERA) and Cubs left-hander Matthew Boyd (3-2, 2.78 ERA) take the mound on Saturday.
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
Chicago White Sox's Miguel Vargas rounds third base after hitting a two-run home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Chicago Cubs starter Cade Horton delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox Friday, May 16, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Chicago White Sox starter Shane Smith delivers a pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs Friday, May 16, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Chicago Cubs' Moises Ballesteros watches his fielder's choice RBI during the second inning of a baseball game against the Chicago White Sox, Friday, May 16, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch left, slides into home plate safely as Chicago White Sox catcher Matt Thaiss (29) attempts to apply the tag during the second inning of a baseball game Friday, May 16, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty)
