Belgian authorities have arrested a garden center operator and employees accused of actively supplying materials and advice to illegal cannabis cultivators,a case highlighting the adaptability of criminal networks. The inquiry has unearthed a decades-long history of organized crime linked to the operation’s alleged leader, Bekhti, 50, including past collaborations with known figures in both France and Belgium. This case, involving targeted advertising in Albanian, underscores the increasing sophistication-and brazenness-of those supporting illicit drug production in the region.
A decades-long criminal history, including ties to a notorious Belgian crime figure, has resurfaced as authorities investigate a garden center operator allegedly catering to illegal cannabis cultivation. The case underscores the evolving methods used to support illicit drug operations.
Past Connections to Armed Robbery and Explosives
Bekhti, 50, has a lengthy criminal record and previously collaborated with Hassan Maâche, a man linked to organized crime in Belgium since the 1980s. The pair were implicated in a planned large-scale robbery targeting a French armored car transport hub near Strasbourg in December 2013, though the attempt was thwarted. Bekhti was initially arrested under a false identity in Paris in April 2014 and later extradited back to Belgium before being sent to France again to face charges related to the failed heist.
In Belgium, Bekhti is also known for multiple armed robberies and involvement in weapons trafficking originating from the Lemmens Square area of Anderlecht. Authorities allege his network distributed weapons of war, including Kalashnikov rifles, explosives, and rocket launchers, as early as 2008.
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Bekhti was also reportedly linked to a shooting on Stalingrad Avenue in Brussels in 2008. He initially confessed to his involvement during a 2010 arms trafficking trial, but evidence related to the shooting was lost in a 2012 fire at the Brussels Palace of Justice. He later retracted his confession and was acquitted the following year.
A History of Collaboration with Seasoned Criminals
Dubbed a “supergangster” by some media outlets at the time, Bekhti spent several years incarcerated in French prisons. It was during this period that he reportedly met Antonio Ferrara, a 52-year-old Franco-Italian man known as “the king of escape” after twice breaking out of prison. Ferrara, a repeat offender, was released from prison in July 2022.
Both men are experienced criminals, along with other members of Ferrara’s group, which allegedly planned to target a bank security facility in Bochum, Germany.
“They didn’t account for the evolution of police investigation techniques and cross-border cooperation in their plan,” a source close to the investigation commented, describing the group as somewhat out of touch. “They’re a bit of ‘boomers’ when it comes to robbery.”
Outdated Tactics in a Modern Security Landscape
Despite the suspects’ age, the plan relied on outdated methods, assuming that crossing a border would be enough to obscure their activities. However, since the 2015-2016 terrorist attacks, national authorities have prioritized sharing intelligence and forming joint investigation teams with neighboring countries.
Belgian authorities detected Bekhti’s contacts in Germany around the same time French investigators noticed increased activity among French robbers. The group was monitored for months, and a listening device was placed in one of their vehicles, leading to arrests in Eupen, Belgium, on February 27, 2025.
