Radja Nainggolan Freed Amid Drug Investigation: Asks For Privacy Respect

Radja Nainggolan is suspected of being involved in drug trafficking (Instagram/@radja_nainggolan_l4).

JAKARTA - Former Belgian National Team star and Indonesian blood, Radja Nainggolan, called for his privacy to be respected after being arrested and released as part of an investigation into charges of cocaine trafficking.

Nainggolan, 36, used social media on Thursday, January 30, 2025, to respond to news of his arrest after the Brussels General Prosecutor's office confirmed on Monday, January 27, 2025, that the player was deprived of his freedom in connection with the case.

The investigation was focused on allegedly importing cocaine from South America through the port ofdaswerp and its distribution back in Belgium.

"You can imagine that the last few days have been very difficult," he wrote in an Instagram story.

"I want to thank everyone who has supported me from the bottom of my heart."

"Hot support from my family and friends, along with the loyalty and trust of the Lokeren-Temse KSC, its amazing fans, and my teammates, gave me the power to move forward," he wrote again.

Nainggolan recently joined the Belgian club, Lokeren-Temse, after several months without a club.

"Now that I'm back home, I want to fully focus on football and restore my peace of mind."

"I beg that my privacy be respected and the time I need to recover."

"For now, I am not allowed, and will not, provide any interviews related to this case," said Nainggolan.

Nainggolan has made 30 appearances for the Belgian National Team, but has not played for his country since March 2018.

The midfielder spent most of his career in Italy, mainly playing for Roma and Inter Milan.

Nainggolan has had some disciplinary problems throughout his career. When playing for Roma in 2018, he was fined and expelled from the squad for a game.

It was the aftermath of a video of him looking drunk and smoking during a party on Instagram on New Year's Eve.

While playing for Royal dayerp in 2022, he was suspended after being seen smoking electronics on the bench.

Belgian clubs at the time also mentioned how their behavior could have a negative impact on the squad.

Meanwhile, before defending Lokeren-Temse, Nainggolan played for Bhayangkara FC in Liga 1 for the 2023/2024 season.