The Public Prosecution Service in Limburg demands 28 months of imprisonment, of which 4 months are conditional, against a 25-year-old man from Maastricht who is suspected of human trafficking and criminal exploitation of a minor, vulnerable boy and violation of the Opium Act.
Drug Dealing in Belgium
The victim is a 17-year-old boy with a disability at the time. On April 17, 2024, the victim boarded a train to Maastricht in Belgium, where he was sent to deal drugs, with narcotics in his possession. At the station in Maastricht, he was arrested by the police for dealing and possession of hard drugs. The boy immediately stated that he did this under pressure from the suspect.
Threatened and Beaten
The victim subsequently filed a report of criminal exploitation and human trafficking. He was pressured, threatened, and beaten by the suspect. A co-defendant allegedly held a gun to the victims head to force him to sell drugs in Belgium. A few days later, a large quantity of drugs, cash, and a real firearm were found with that co-defendant, based on the victims indications. The victim went to Belgium, where he stayed in Ypres with drug addicts. These addresses were arranged by the suspect. After being threatened in Ypres, he decided to return to Maastricht, despite further threats from the suspect.
Suspect Pressures Victim
Even after the victim returned to Maastricht, the suspect tried to get him to withdraw his report. In intercepted phone calls, there were discussions about windows being broken at the victims mothers house and the suspects brothers standing on the victims mothers doorstep.
Recruiting Minors is Becoming More Common
Recruiting minors to commit criminal offenses is becoming increasingly common. Just last week, Andy Kaag, head of Serious and Organised Crime at Europol, said in the national media: “Drug gangs shamelessly exploit children. They are very easy to manipulate. The phenomenon is spreading like wildfire across Europe.”
Severe Sentence Demanded
According to the Public Prosecution Service, deliberately using a vulnerable minor for serious criminal offenses should be heavily punished. The public prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of 28 months, part of which is conditional, and a ban on contact with both the victim and his family, with a probation period of 3 years.