DR ‹ › A Belgian-Moroccan gangster remains detained in Guinea despite having been eligible for release since January 3, 2025, according to findings by the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP). Ibrahim Akhlal, 30, is still being held in Conakry's central prison, even though official documents indicate his detention had «expired». Belgium and the Netherlands have long sought his extradition, as he still has to serve a total of 21 years in prison for multiple convictions. The case has reached a diplomatic deadlock, with sources indicating that an earlier extradition attempt was blocked at the last minute by Guinea's justice minister. Akhlal's lawyer, Mory Doumbouya, denounced the situation, stating: «We do not understand why he is still in prison. He is being held arbitrarily and illegally… He is a hostage of the Guinean justice system». Born in Saint-Josse, Akhlal is a well-known figure in criminal circles. He escaped from Saint-Gilles prison in Brussels in March 2020 while serving time for a series of violent robberies. He later resurfaced in the Netherlands, where he is suspected of involvement in a 2021 armed heist in Amsterdam targeting a shipment of precious metals worth an estimated €14 million.
