The largest Belgian drug trial ever has begun: who are the main characters in the 'Costa' case?
The 'Costa' case started today in the court of Tongeren. But what is this mega trial actually about? And who are the main suspects?

Crime
Panorama Editorial
Mar 10, 2025 | 6:02 PM


In the Netherlands we have the notorious and gigantic criminal cases 'Marengo' and 'Eris', but in Belgium they also have a trial that all eyes are on. In 'Costa' no less than 57 people are on trial for the import of 25 tons of South American coke with a street value of around 3.5 billion euros. These drugs were smuggled into Europe via the port of Antwerp.

Unique to the 'Costa' case is the number of notorious underworld figures on trial. From a (former?) Bandidos man and a former police officer, to the son of a famous basketball player and an Italian-Belgian criminal family. And 'Bolle Jos' is also seen as a key figure in a drug network that brought billions of cocaine into the country.

According to the judiciary, there was a collaboration for years between four large criminal organizations that smuggled cocaine via shipments of wood, scrap metal and fruit.

'The Little Escobar'
The first organization would be led by Tom Bastiaanse and Willy van Mechelen . Bastiaanse, alias 'the little Escobar of the Kempen', used to import cars via the port of Antwerp. He would also have all kinds of contacts there, which he used to smuggle large quantities of cocaine into the country. His partner Van Mechelen is a notorious figure in the Belgian underworld, since 'Uncle Willy' used to be a policeman. In fact, Willy was at one point adjutant-chief of the drugs section of the Antwerp surveillance and investigation brigade (BOB). However, at some point he made the switch to the underworld. At that time he was already familiar with all the important figures within the Belgian criminal circuit.

Police chief becomes cocaine smuggler: the career switch of 'Uncle Willy' | Panorama
From the edition of Wednesday, October 27, 2021: Willy van Mechelen (78) was first a super cop, then a flat cop and then completely switched to the other side. Belgium has been enjoying the gripping adventures of 'The Uncle' for decades, but our country is also a common thread in his bizarre life. How a celebrated police chief transformed into one of the biggest drug dealers in the Benelux. "If you sleep with the dog, eat with it and covet its food, then you know you're going to get its fleas."

The Dutchmen Bastiaan O. and Berry S. are also said to be part of this organization. Peter R., Florus W. and Kurt V. are also said to be part of this organization, as well as a number of people from the 'upper world', according to the Belgian Nieuwsblad .

Aquinos
The second organization is said to be headed by Italian-born Lucio , one of the notorious Aquino brothers. The Aquino family is sometimes referred to in the Belgian media as 'The gang of the chatterboxes' or 'the Sopranos on the Maas', because several family members have been convicted of drug smuggling in the past, according to VRT . According to the judiciary, Lucio has been running a successful cocaine line between South America and Europe for 13 years. He reportedly received help from Albanian Bledar 'Ghost' Seferi and Ibrahim Ozcan .

Bandidos man Frisson
A third organization that would be involved in the large-scale import of cocaine would be led by Geert Frisson . The Belgian is or was a prominent member of the motorcycle club Bandidos. It is speculated that he held the position of vice-chairman. That he has or had ties to the club is obvious, because he has the club name tattooed on his face. As well as an image of a Kalashnikov rifle, a gigantic knuckle duster and the abbreviation ACAB (all cops are bastards).

According to the judiciary, Frisson was responsible for almost half of the total 25 tons of coke that was intercepted by the Belgian police. A shipment of 11.5 tons was seized. Drugs that the Bandidos man had wanted to smuggle into the country, according to the Public Prosecution Service. Another alleged key figure within this organization is said to be Rijntjes H.

'Bulky Jos'
The fourth organization is that of none other than 'Bolle Jos ' Leijdekkers, the Dutch top criminal who has been at the top of our most wanted list for some time now. The involvement of this party is said to have been limited . However, the judiciary states that Leijdekkers directed Nathan Steveniers in the import of batches of coke. This Nathan is a son of the Belgian basketball legend Jan Willem 'Willy' Steveniers, and also a leader of the hard core of the football club Royal Antwerp.

Rolled up
Together, the organizations would have arranged companies and people to import tons of drugs. After all, insiders in the port had to be arranged for this, as well as companies in South America and Europe to import the drugs. The upper and underworlds were completely intertwined, it seems. The criminal organizations exchanged resources and knowledge, often for payment, to circumvent the investigative services and customs.

At some point, the police tracked down their old colleague Van Mechelen and installed listening devices in his car. This happened during the corona period, a period in which 'Uncle Willy' arranged a lot of things from his car. And so he unintentionally exposed the entire structure of the criminal association.