The US government has opened the hunt for Antwerp resident Othman El Ballouti (37), who according to the US is an important cocaine smuggler. The US Treasury Department has blacklisted El Ballouti – who resides in Dubai – from the Office Of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). The Americans also want to seize all his assets. Othman El Ballouti responds laconically.

Mexican criminal threatens Antwerp resident: 'debts are debts of honor'
July 20, 2023

A video has surfaced in which a representative of a Mexican drug cartel urges Othman El Ballouti from Antwerp to pay debts. That writes the Gazet van Antwerp.

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Othman El Ballouti (37) is said to be an important player in the international cocaine trade environment, something he himself has denied.

In the video, a Mexican man addresses 'Señor El Ballouti' directly.

The man identifies himself as someone from the state of Sinaloa (in northwestern Mexico). He says he speaks on behalf of Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, the fugitive leader of the Sinaloa cartel.

Debts of honor
"I'm sorry Mr Ballouti that I sent people to the door of one of your people to settle a debt," says the Mexican.

'You need to get serious. Debts are debts of honor.'

The man invites Ballouti to show the video to people from Mexico in Europe so that they can tell him who he is, suggesting that he is not to be trifled with.