Table of Contents
- Radja Nainggolan was arrested on Monday for alleged cocaine smuggling
- It is alleged that the former Inter Milan player is one of the individuals responsible for smuggling cocaine from South America into Belgium
- Apart from his on-field achievements, Nainggolan is a lucky man off the pitch as he is blessed with a beautiful family
On Monday, the sporting world woke up to news that a well known footballer, Radja Nainggolan, had been arrested for alleged cocaine smuggling.
BBC and Goal are among prominent media companies that shared the news, with the former indicating that Nainggolan had been apprehended by police in Belgium as part of raids carried out across the country. It is alleged that the former Inter Milan player is one of the individuals responsible for smuggling cocaine from South America into the European country.
A statement released by the Brussels prosecutor confirmed Nainggolan’s arrest.
“The investigation concerns alleged facts of importation of cocaine from South America to Europe, via the port of Antwerp, and its redistribution in Belgium.” BBC quotes the Brussels prosecutor’s office.

Radja Nainggolan. Photo/ Transfermarkt.
Who Is Radja Nainggolan?
Nainggolan is a professional footballer who is currently signed to Belgian club Lokeren-Temse, which plays in Challenger Pro League. The talented footballer was born on May 4, 1988, in Antwerp, Belgium, to an Indonesian father, Marius Nainggolan, and a Belgian mother, Lizy Bogaerts. He has three half brothers and a twin sister who also plays football.
According to Wikipedia, their father abandoned the family and returned to Indonesia when they were still young. The footballer’s mother passed away in 2010.
Nainggolan began playing organized football at Tubantia Borgerhout aged five. After catching the attention of scouts, he was offered a chance at Germinal Beerschot when he was twelve.
In 2005, Nainggolan moved to Italy and signed with Serie B club Piacenza, where he completed his youth development. He made his senior debut the following year and quickly became a regular starter for the team.
The Belgian footballer, who plays as a central midfielder, spent the majority of his professional career in Italy playing for clubs such as Cagliari, Roma and Inter Milan. He was part of Inter Milan’s squad that clinched the 2020-21 title.
Nainggolan returned to Belgium in the summer of 2021 and signed a two-year deal with Royal Antwerp. He left the Belgian club in December 2022 after winning the Belgian Pro League. He then had a spell with SPAL and Bhayangkara before announcing his retirement from professional football.
Nainggolan came out of retirement earlier this month and signed with Lokeren-Temse on a five-month deal. He scored on his debut and was arrested six days after signing with the Belgian second division club.
Did Nainggolan Play For Belgium?
Nainggolan was eligible to play for both Indonesia and Belgium since his father is an Indonesian. He opted to represent Belgium and was part of the under-23 team that won the 2007–09 International Challenge Trophy. He made his senior debut in 2009 and went on to make 30 appearances for the national team until his retirement in 2018.
Who Is Radja Nainggolan’s Wife?
Apart from his on-field achievements, Nainggolan is also a lucky man off the pitch as he is blessed with a beautiful family. The Belgian footballer is married to one of the most beautiful and dedicated WAGs in the world of football, Claudia Nainggolan.
Nainggolan met his wife in 2010 and the two got married one year later. Their bond has remained strong over the years despite facing challenges. According to sources, the couple is blessed with two children; Aysha, born in 2012, and Mailey, born in 2016.

Claudia Nainggolan. Photo/ Het Nieuwsblad.
Claudia is 42 years as of the time of writing. She is six years older than her husband. Born and raised in Italy, Claudia is an Italian citizen. She has a younger sister named Violetta Lai. Their father Narciso Lai served in the military.
The footballer’s spouse stands at 1.65 m or 5 feet and 6 inches. She weighs 57 kg and has brown eyes and black hair. According to sources, she is a fashion enthusiast and a model. Claudia’s undying love for music from a young age made her become a DJ often performing at parties. She also worked as a sales assistant before meeting Radja.
In July 2019, Claudia left many shocked when she revealed on Instagram that she is battling cancer. She shared her journey with the monster disease, inspiring many people worldwide.