Radja Nainggolan is set to appear before the criminal court of Brussels on charges of money laundering. The Belgian footballer is allegedly involved in a large case of international drug trafficking along with 15 other defendants.
This familiar face in European football, according to the Brussels prosecutor’s office, will face the criminal court in a major international drug trafficking case. Since last year, the former Belgian international has been suspected of borrowing 100,000 euros from a drug trafficker, aiding in money laundering. He will now have to justify his actions before the judge.
Following an investigation, the former midfielder of the Red Devils was arrested in late January 2025 along with seventeen other suspects, fifteen of whom will be appearing alongside him. The investigation focuses on alleged cocaine importation from Latin America to the port of Antwerp in Belgium.
The player, however, denies any direct involvement in drug trafficking. He admits to receiving money but claims it was a personal loan unrelated to criminal activities. In a past interview on Bar Goens, televised in the Netherlands, Radja Nainggolan refused to explain the reason for borrowing money, stating, “It doesn’t matter, does it? I do what I want with my money.”
Known for his outspoken nature, Radja Nainggolan has often made headlines off the field. But this time, the case takes a more serious turn with potential legal consequences. The player, who made headlines in Italian sports media for a New Year’s live stream in 2018 showing him intoxicated and smoking, risks several years in prison if convicted.
