A Kenya-based Belgian TikTok star, Frank De Tank, a.k.a. Frank Murugi, has been exposed as a fugitive drug lord.
The 42-year-old TikTok star who has over one million followers flew to Kenya in 2017 and rented a house in Nairobi’s leafy suburbs of Milimani, where he lived with his 21-year-old girlfriend.
Frank who is said to be a prime suspect in one of Belgium’s most serious criminal cases, was deported back home last week following reports of being wanted for allegedly raising Ksh.452 million (€ 3.5 million) as drug trafficking proceeds.
His extravagant lifestyle, on the other hand, drew scrutiny from members of the public and police officers after he went on a spending spree, splurging money on supercars and high-end exotic resorts.
It was gathered that Frank and his friend El Hajjioui Nordin were suspected leaders of a gang that trafficked over 2000 tons of cocaine in 2015 and 2016.
Nordin is said to have been sentenced in absentia to 40 years in prison but has since fled to the United Arab Emirates, specifically Dubai.
Belgian authorities have requested his extradition, but the UAE has denied the request.
The trial of the TikTok star who faces up to a 12-year jail sentence began on February 11, 2022.
Frank, who had previously worked as a dock worker at the Belgian port, was then arrested and questioned. Later, he agreed to work with the police to assist in the arrest of the trafficking syndicate.
He was released on bail and that is when he flew to Kenya in 2017. Further investigations led to his re-arrest.
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