In a significant development in the fight against international drug trafficking, a Dubai resident named Othman El Ballouti, who reportedly owns multiple properties in the city, has been hit by US sanctions for his alleged links to the notorious Kinahan Cartel which operates from Dubai
The sanctions were imposed by the US Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) on Othman El Ballouti and his associates, Younes El Ballouti and Youssef Ben Azza, who are accused of running a cocaine smuggling operation and using Dubai as a hideout.
Earlier, the US Department of State announced rewards up to $5million information leading to each of the arrests and or convictions of Irish transnational organised criminal Cristopher Vincent Kinahan and his two sons Daniel Joseph Kinahan and Cristopher Kinahan. The Gulf Investigaors can confirm that Daniel lives in Dubai and is linked to several boxing clubs in the Al Quoz neighborhood of the emirate.
According to the US Department of Treasury, Othman El Ballouti is described as a "high-level drug trafficker" managing an international criminal organization involved in smuggling significant amounts of cocaine through Antwerp's Port for distribution in Europe. Additionally, he has been linked to money laundering and drug trafficking networks in South America and China.
For the past five years, Othman El Ballouti has been on the run from Belgian authorities, who suspect him to be hiding in Dubai. Recent revelations from a leaked database of real estate information indicate that a person with the name of Othman El Ballouti indeed owns multiple properties in the emirate. Belgian newspapers have portrayed El Ballouti as a prominent cocaine importer operating out of the Belgian port of Antwerp, a charge he has denied. Reports have often depicted him as one of the major drug barons in the region, with connections to rival gangs. It is believed that his combined assets are worth a staggering 100 million euros ($118 million).
The involvement of El Ballouti and his associates in the drug trade has not been without consequences, as Dutch-Moroccan and Belgian gangs have been engaged in a deadly turf war over drug distribution in Belgium and the Netherlands since 2012. Numerous killings have occurred in cities like Antwerp and Amsterdam, which are known as major drug ports in Western Europe.
The El Ballouti family has also faced personal tragedies as a result of these conflicts. Othman's younger brother, Younes "El Magico" El Ballouti, was abducted in Antwerp in 2016, and the kidnappers demanded a substantial ransom from Othman for his release. They eventually took Younes to France, where he managed to escape and seek help from the local authorities. The kidnapping was reportedly orchestrated by Dutch drug lord Houssine Ait Soussan, who sought retaliation against Othman El Ballouti for excluding him from the Antwerp cocaine smuggling route. Several individuals were arrested and prosecuted in connection with the kidnapping.
The leaked database of property and residency data compiled by real estate professionals, accessed by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project through C4ADS, reveals Othman El Ballouti's connection to 11 properties in Dubai, collectively worth almost US$ 8.5 million. Among these properties are luxurious residences in prominent areas like the Mira townhouses in Reem, valued at around $2 million, and the Address Residence Sky View, one of Dubai's most opulent hotel and apartment complexes. The latter is known for its unique design featuring two towers connected by a sky bridge, offering extravagant amenities such as a restaurant, ballroom, and infinity pool.
Despite these revelations and the imposition of US sanctions, Othman El Ballouti has remained elusive and could not be reached by The Gulf Investigators (TGI) for comment on the matter.
This case serves as a stark reminder of the global reach of drug trafficking networks and the efforts of international law enforcement agencies to curb their activities. As the investigation continues, authorities both in Belgium and the US will likely collaborate to bring those involved to justice and dismantle the criminal networks responsible for smuggling drugs into Europe and beyond.