The trial of 46 suspects began in Belgium in a case involving alleged large-scale international drug trafficking linked to the Peterbos district of Brussels. Prosecutors allege that the group was also involved in six attempted murders, including a fatal mistaken attack in 2023, as well as illegal possession, deliberate arson and money laundering. They say the network had links to Marseille and Panama and generated more than €11 million between 2020 and 2022.

The central defendant is 30-year-old Imad B., known as “Mara”, who prosecutors allege led the network and continued directing it from prison after being sentenced to eight years for drug trafficking in 2022. B. denied the charges, disputed the attribution of Signal messages and said he had no further connection with drug trafficking in Peterbos. He acknowledged having a smuggled phone in prison, saying he used it to contact his family.