Belgian authorities seized 50 bags of cocaine during a search last month of the office of Socialist Minister of Education Caroline Désir, POLITICO reports.
On Thursday evening, La Dernière Heure newspaper first reported that police had found more than 50 bags of cocaine in the minister’s office. On Friday, the Brussels prosecutor’s office confirmed the discovery of the drugs in the minister’s office and said one of its employees had been arrested and charged with selling and possessing drugs.
Eight other suspects were also charged jointly for selling and possessing drugs, but two of them were paroled.
Désir confirmed that she learned of the arrest of a deputy in her office on drug trafficking charges on 13 December. She said she fired the employee “for breach of trust,” after which her office was searched for “criminal items” and found “50 bags of white powder.”
According to La Dernière Heure, police also found €10,000 in cash at the arrested employee’s home.
The Brussels prosecutor’s office said the investigation is ongoing. Désir ‘s office could not be reached for further comment.
