A court in Brussels has sentenced an Italian citizen to four years in prison for attempting to smuggle 1.2 kilograms of cocaine into Belgium, hidden in his wheelchair. The news was reported by RTBF.
The incident took place in November last year. The man, who uses a wheelchair, arrived on a flight from Ethiopia. During customs inspection, officers discovered multiple packages of cocaine concealed within the wheelchair’s structure.
During interrogation, the man claimed he resorted to smuggling due to financial hardship. It was also revealed that he had a previous conviction for similar offenses.
His lawyers argued that, due to his disability, he became an “easy target” for the Neapolitan mafia, who allegedly convinced him that people with disabilities would attract less attention at airport security checks.
Meanwhile, the fight against drug trafficking continues across Europe. Just last week, police in Valencia, Spain, seized a ton of cocaine, and in February, over 180 people were arrested during a large-scale anti-mafia operation in Sicily.
