Police in the Netherlands have arrested two men who may have committed an attack on a restaurant in Antwerp around 3 a.m. on Saturday night. An explosion burned down the ground floor of the restaurant. The Antwerp police do not rule out a link with drug violence.

International drug file
Restaurant De Nachtegaal is run by Belgian former basketball professional Willy Steveniers (85). His son Nathan (36) is one of the main suspects in a large international drug file in which the fugitive Dutchman 'Bolle Jos' Leijdekkers is also central. Bolle Jos is held responsible for the import of 1,340 kilos of cocaine, together with Nathan Steveniers.

Record load
On October 27, 2020, a record load of more than 11,000 kilos of pure cocaine was found among old iron in sea containers in the port of Antwerp. This was the largest seizure of cocaine ever in Belgium. At the end of September 2020, former state policeman Willy van Mechelen, Lucio Aquino and thirteen other suspects were arrested during Operation Costa , including Nathan Steveniers. Sebastian and Nathan Steveniers are said to be leading figures among the hooligans of FC Antwerp

The organization is said to have had a turnover of 195 million euros.

Large fire
Last night's explosion took place around 3 a.m. on Middelheimlaan in Antwerp and caused a fire that destroyed the entire ground floor, except for the kitchen. The damage is extensive. No one was injured.

A suspicious car with Dutch license plates was checked near the restaurant just before the explosion. After the fire was reported, the police immediately made a link. The car was traced in the Netherlands and the two occupants were subsequently arrested.