14-07-2025
Dubai Hands Over Three Most-Wanted Belgian Crime Bosses
Dubai Police have officially extradited three high-profile criminal suspects—Mathias Akyazili, Giorgi Faes, and Othman El Ballouti—to Belgian authorities, following a major international operation involving Interpol and Europol. All three were flagged as 'most-wanted' for crimes ranging from drug smuggling to human trafficking.
The arrests were carried out in coordination with global law enforcement agencies and were based on Interpol red notices. Dubai Media Office confirmed on Sunday that the suspects were handed over after full legal and judicial formalities were completed by the UAE Ministry of Justice and the Dubai Court of Cassation.
'These extraditions reflect the UAE's unwavering support for global justice,' said Dubai Police, reinforcing their stance on fighting transnational organized crime.
Who are these suspects?
Othman El Ballouti, one of the extradited men, is no stranger to international headlines. In 2023, he was sanctioned by the U.S. Department of the Treasury for allegedly overseeing a massive drug network that smuggled cocaine through Belgium's Port of Antwerp. He had already been sentenced in absentia to seven years for trafficking 840kg of cocaine.
Meanwhile, Akyazili and Faes are also facing charges for operating a criminal gang, robbery, and trafficking narcotics and humans.
How it went down
The extradition process kicked off after Belgium submitted an international arrest warrant to the UAE's Ministry of Justice. The final transfer followed court rulings in Dubai and strict compliance with legal procedures under the UAE-Belgium extradition treaty, which has been in effect since November 2022.
Belgium reacts
Abdullah Al Nuaimi, the UAE's Minister of Justice, held a phone call with his Belgian counterpart, Annelies Verlinden, after the suspects landed in Belgium. Both praised the success of this cross-border collaboration and emphasized their countries' shared commitment to fighting organized crime.
This extradition is the latest in a growing list of successful international cooperation cases involving Dubai Police. As global crime syndicates become more complex, Dubai seems determined to play a leading role in dismantling them—one red notice at a time.
TL;DR:
Dubai Police just flexed their international crime-fighting muscles again—three major Belgian gang figures are now off Dubai's streets and facing justice back home.
Dubai Police arrests and extradited to authorities in Belgium three prime suspects wanted in that country in connection with cases of cross-border organised crime. The trio were listed in the most wanted category by the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) and…
— Dubai Media Office (@DXBMediaOffice)