Belgian-Moroccan kickboxer Jamal Ben Saddik will appear before an examining magistrate in Anvers, Belgium on Wednesday, on charges of kidnapping a dockworker from the city’s port, along with another suspect.
Ben Saddik, 33, and the individual aged 22 were arrested “for illegal deprivation of liberty with death threats, carrying a prohibited weapon and participation in a criminal organization.” Belgium’s Federal Judicial Police have not ruled out more serious ramifications in the case.
Several Belgian media reported a possible link between this case and drug trafficking in the port of Anvers.
The athlete is said to have ordered a commando operation against the docker, who is said to have received an advance for “the extraction of cocaine from the port without following up the transaction.”
“The investigation is being conducted by the Anvers Federal Judicial Police (PJF) under the direction of the examining magistrate. A possible link with the drug scene is currently being evaluated. In the interests of the ongoing investigation, no further information will be given,” the media reported.
Jamal Ben Saddik was held for a period as part of Operation Sky ECC.
He and his brother were convicted of money laundering in June 2024 and sentenced to 40 months in jail and a 40,000 euro fine.
Three years ago, the Belgian police and judiciary put a stop to the activities of SKY ECC, a criminal-used encrypted communications system. The billion emails downloaded included conversations about drug trafficking, financial crime, and corruption.