Is it possible to extradite Europe’s ‘Cocaine King’ Otaman L Balouti from UAE? Explained extradition law. world News
TL; Dr.
- In July 2025,
UAE ExtraditedOtaman L Baloti Along with two other high-profile criminals, “Cocaine King” was dubbed to Belgium.
- L Baloti was designed for smuggling cocaine on a large scale through the port of Antwerp and was approved by the US in 2023.
- The extradition 2021 was performed under the UAE-Belgium Treaty, which highlights the growing cooperation of the UAE in international law enforcement.
In a major advance in the efforts of international anti-verse substances, authorities in the United Arab Emirates have extradited Othaman L Balouti, one of Europe’s most sought-in drug smugglers. The 38-year-old Belgium-Morocco National, often referred to by investigators as “Cocaine King”, was transferred to Belgium custody in July 2025 after several months of arrest in Dubai in December 2024.His extradition was part of a comprehensive international operation, which also saw two other high-profile suspects, Mathius Akizili and Georgian Face Handover, according to an announcement by the Dubai Media Office on Sunday. This step was made possible in 2021 through a bilateral extradition agreement signed between UAE and Belgium.El Baloti, which was in the most desired list of Interpol and Europeol, is accused of orchestrate on large -scale cocaine shipment in Europe through Antwerp, Belgian’s largest port port and a major entry point for drugs from South America. His arrest was part of a coordinated international operation to include UAE law enforcement agencies and judicial cooperation bodies, including the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Justice, who oversees extradition requests.The decision of the UAE’s approved its extradition reflects a new phase mark in the prosecution of El Balouti and displays the growing role of the country in across the border law enforcement cooperation. With the completion of formal extradition procedures, Belgium officials are preparing to take custody of a person who has long been considered central for the drug crisis of Europe.
The path of arrest and extradition in Dubai
Othaman L Baloti was arrested in Dubai in December 2024, when an interpol red notice was broadcast internationally at Belgian request. They developed officers for many years, operating from abroad, while allegedly managed a criminal organization responsible for importing large amounts of cocaine in Europe.He was arrested after monitoring and intelligence sharing between Belgian officials and UAE. Once located in UAE, a targeted operation was carried out by the Dubai Police in coordination with the Ministry of Justice by the UAE Police, which later referred to the case to Dubai’s Public Prosecution for legal proceedings related to their extradition.El Baloti is accused of controlling a drug trafficking network, smuggling cocaine on a commercial scale hidden within shipping containers coming from South America. The container passed through the port of Antwerp, which recorded 116 tonnes of cocaine seizures in 2023, a figure symbol of the scale of European cocaine trade.His criminal venture allegedly expanded well beyond Belgium. In 2023, Foreign Property Control (OFAC) of the American Department of the Treasury’s office banned El Baloti to run “International Criminal Organization” involved in drug smuggling and money laundering. The restrictions also targeted his younger brother and another close aide, effectively freeze his US-based assets and cut him from the international financial system.The US Treasury mentioned that the network of El Baloti was responsible for facilitating cocaine movement in many courts and getting illegal income through a complex web of international channels. These sanctions increased the pressure on law enforcement worldwide and detained it.Sadly, the name of El Balouti is also associated with violence in Antwerp, which has seen an increase in shoots related to drugs associated with turf wars. In such an incident, his 11 -year -old niece was killed in a shooting, causing public concern over the increasing drug war in the city. Belgian media has tied the incident to quarrel between rival criminal organizations with drug trafficking operations in the port.Following his arrest in December 2024, Belgium officials initiated formal extradition proceedings under a bilateral treaty signed with UAE in 2021 to strengthen cooperation in criminal cases. In July 2025, UAE officials approved the request, and El Baloti has since been extradited to Belgium, where he would face prosecution for his alleged role in a huge international drug trafficking network.
Understanding extradition in UAE: Law, Processes and International Cooperation
The extradition of Otaman L Balouti from UAE to Belgium has attracted attention to the country’s legal system to deal with international criminal cooperation. As a growing center of international commerce and transit, the UAE has developed a structured, legally strong structure to deal with extradition requests, both incoming and outgoing, in compliance with global criteria. Extradition is a legal process in which a country formally surrenders one person to another country where the person wants, either for testing or serving a punishment for criminal offense. This international judicial cooperation helps to ensure that accused of serious crimes or convicted persons cannot do justice by crossing borders.
UAE legal structure controlling extradition
The extradition in the UAE is controlled by a combination of domestic laws, bilateral and multilateral treaties and international cooperation mechanisms.
- Federal Law Number 39 of 2006 on mutual judicial cooperation in criminal cases
- 2023 Federal Dickry Act No. 28, which introduced recent amendments to strengthen framework
- Bilateral extradition treaties with individual countries including Belgium
- Multilateral agreements, such as:
- Judicial cooperation was signed by Arab states including Riyadh Arab Convention (1983), Algeria, Bahrain, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Libya, Morocco, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Syria, Tunisia and Yamain.
- Interpol Membership, UAE is one of 196 member countries of Interpol and complies with international alerts like red notice
UAE-Belgium extradition agreement
In December 2021, UAE and Belgium signed two major agreements:
- A extradition treaty
- A mutual legal aid treaty
These treaties provide a legal basis to extradite desired persons in any country and facilitate criminal investigation, evidence and facilitates cooperation in prosecution.
Extradition process in UAE: Step by step
The UAE follows the five-step process to handle extradition requests, ensuring both legal compliance and protection of personal rights. The process also allows judicial review and appeal.
1. Vigilance and request
- The process usually begins with an interpol red notice or direct extradition request through diplomatic channels from foreign countries.
- The request must be included:
- Identity of person
- Description of alleged crime
- Legal basis for extradition
- Any assistant evidence
2. Review by UAE officials
- The UAEs review the Ministry of Justice, Public Prosecution, Ministry of Internal and UAE Interpol Authority requests.
- They assess whether extradition meets several conditions:
- Is the person a UAE citizen?
- Is the crime qualified as extradition under the UAE law?
- Does dual criminal principles apply (ie, is it a crime in the United Arab Emirates)?
Note: While dual criminality is respected, the law allows extradition, even if the elements or names of the crime are different, unless the main offense is punishable.
3. Judicial review by UAE courts
- If the officials approved the request, the case is sent to the UAE Court of Appeal, which hear to determine:
- Is the fixed process followed
- If there is a risk of human rights of a person
- Is the legal system of the country who requested and just
- If all formal and procedural conditions are fulfilled
- This decision can be appealed to the Supreme Judicial Body of the Court of Cassation, UAE.
4. Final rule by the Ministry of Justice
- If the courts rule in favor of extradition, the Ministry of Justice issues the final decision.
- The ruling becomes binding and paves the way to the handover.
5. Transfer and extraction
- The person is formally handed over to the officials of the country requesting diplomatic and law enforcement channels.
- Transfer is safe and legally coordinated.
Base to deny extradition
Under Article 9 of the UAE extradition law, several specific legal grounds can be used to deny extradition request:
- The individual is a UAE national (UAE does not extradite its citizens, but can prosecute them domestically for crimes committed abroad).
- UAE has jurisdiction over crime
- Crime is political in nature (except for terrorism, massacre, war crimes, or crimes against the state)
- Crime is military in nature
- Extradition is sought for harassment on the basis of breed, religion, nationality or political opinion
- A person is already being investigated or tried in the UAE for the same offense
- The person has already been convicted or acquitted in the United Arab Emirates
- Crime under UAE law is timed
- There is a risk of torture, inhuman treatment, or inconsistent punishment in the request state
Common legal requirements for extradition requests
If the following conditions are met then the UAE can accept a extradition request:
- Crime is punishable by at least one year imprisonment under the country’s law
- If already convicted, the person should have at least six months left of his sentence.
- There is no need to identify the Act under the UAE Act
- The name or label of the crime is not required to match between the two courts at all
UAE’s growing role in global judicial cooperation
The UAE has rapidly established itself as a cooperative crime that combat international crime. Supported by a strong legal structure, a wide network of bilateral treaties with countries such as Belgium, France, UK, India, America, China, Australia, Spain, Iran, Egypt and others, and a commitment to judicial freedom, is well equipped to handle complex extradition cases. This strong system enables sharp and legitimate reactions to international criminal threats, as displayed by the high-profile extradition of Otaman L Baloti.FAQS:
- Q Who is Othman El Ballouti?
He is a Belgian-Murko drug traffic, named “Cocaine King”, who accuses a large amount of cocaine smuggling in Europe via Antwerp.
- Q. When and where was he arrested?
He was arrested in Dubai in December 2024 after an interpol red notice was issued by Belgium officials.
- Q. When was he extradited in Belgium?
L Baloti was extradited from UAE to Belgium in July 2025 following formal legal proceedings.
- Q. What made this extradition possible?
In 2021, a bilateral extradition treaty between the United Arab Emirates and Belgium allowed for its legal handover after judicial and ministerial approval.
- Q. What are the UAE’s extradition laws?
They are ruled by the federal law number 39 (amended in 2023), international treaties of 2006, and include conditions such as non-additional and human rights security of UAE citizens.
