Hasselt brothers risk 4 years in prison for trafficking in cocaine and cannabis, Alken dealer fears 36 months

Drivers

During the observations in 2024, investigators saw that the drug trade turned out to be bigger than originally thought. “It was striking that a huge number of people known in the drug environment entered the apartment almost every day. They only stayed inside for a short time,” said the Tongeren prosecutor.

Furthermore, it was also clear that the dealer not only sold drugs within the four walls of the apartment, but also had drivers drive for him. “Several drivers were used to deliver cannabis and cocaine to customers,” the prosecutor said. The drivers stated that they earned between five and ten euros per delivery and that they also purchased drugs from their client.

Ultimately, investigators conducted a search of the apartment in Alken on November 5, 2024. They found coke, cannabis, hashish, precision scales and three telephones. In the caravan of the man in his thirties, which was stored in a warehouse in Sint-Truiden, investigators found additional ecstasy pills, cannabis, packaging material, four precision scales and pepper spray.

Laughing gas and weapons

The Alken dealer also had to be supplied itself. The prosecutor points to two brothers from Hasselt who came into the sights of the police during observations of the Alken apartment with their Volvo. The brothers were also linked to a garage on the Oude Truierbaan and to a house in the Jasmijnstraat in Hasselt. The Volvo was also regularly spotted there on camera images.

Detectives also carried out searches at these locations. In the house they found 13 bottles of laughing gas, 1.5 kilos of cocaine, 3 kilos of cannabis, 64,000 euros in cash in a hidden safe in the bedroom and a converted alarm pistol. In the garage they found 600 grams of cannabis in freezer bags, 126 bottles of laughing gas, three prohibited weapons, ammunition and a silencer. The brothers are therefore not only on trial for drug trafficking, but also for prohibited possession of weapons. They both risk 4 years in prison and fines of 12,000 euros.

Similar brothers

Master Bert Partoens does not agree with that penalty. He acts for one of the brothers and states that his role is much smaller. “From the first observation, they focused on my client. Later it turned out that the investigators were mistaken and that it was always my client’s brother. If you see them sitting next to each other here, it is clear that they look very similar,” says Partoens.

He did admit that his client, when his brother was on holiday, collected money a number of times from the apartment in Alken, but the twenty-something man never supplied drugs. The young man himself confirmed that the weapons found and the bottles with laughing gas are his. “I was interested in weapons, but I was not a member of a criminal group,” he said. Master Partoens requests community service for the more limited role of his client.

Unlawful observations

Master Fouad Marchouh requests an acquittal for the brother, even though the facts are not denied. According to Marchouh, there is something wrong with the start of the file. “There was insufficient information available at that time to obtain authorization for the observations. They were therefore unlawfully carried out, violating the right to a fair trial,” it said.

Master Christophe Daerden, who acts for the Alken dealer, also raises that argument and goes for the acquittal. Subordinately, he states that his client has now got his life on track, which means he can agree to a community service order. The prosecutor does not believe community service is appropriate and is demanding a prison sentence of 36 months and a fine of 8,000 euros for the man in his thirties.

The man’s ex-girlfriend must fear 30 months in prison and a fine of 8,000 euros, but linked to a probation postponement due to her clean criminal record. “She was dragged along by her then partner,” it said. The drivers risk prison sentences of 24 months and fines of 8,000 euros. They can also receive their sentences with a conditional suspension.

Verdict on March 30.