Former Inter Milan and Roma midfielder Radja Nainggolan has been arrested in Belgium as part of an investigation into cocaine trafficking.
The 36-year-old was reportedly detained by Belgian police following a series of coordinated raids across the country. According to the Associated Press, authorities conducted 30 searches on Monday morning in Antwerp and areas around Brussels. The raids uncovered 2.7 kilograms of cocaine, luxury items valued at over €500,000, and more than €350,000 in cash.
Nainggolan, who played for Roma from 2014 to 2018 after a similar stint at Cagliari, later joined Inter Milan but struggled to secure a consistent place in the squad. Known for his combative playing style, Nainggolan recently returned to football by signing with second-tier club Lokeren. The club learned of his arrest through media reports.
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In a statement, Lokeren said: “The club respects the presumption of innocence and therefore cannot comment further. We can only confirm that the player was absent from training this morning. The club will focus on tomorrow’s crucial league match against KAS Eupen. Radja Nainggolan is not eligible to play in that match anyway.”
Belgian prosecutors confirmed that 16 individuals have been arrested in connection with the investigation, which centers on the alleged importation of cocaine from South America to Antwerp’s shipping ports.
Nainggolan, capped 30 times by Belgium, has not represented the national team in six years. His career highlights include winning the 2020/21 Serie A title and the 2022/23 Belgian Pro League title. During his time at Roma, he was named in the Serie A Team of the Year in each of his four full seasons.