Five men, including three bar managers, have been arrested in Belgium as part of a disturbing investigation into the rape and sexual assault of at least 41 women.
The men, linked to a series of drink-spiking incidents, are accused of drugging their victims and committing heinous acts over a period spanning from December 2021 to December 2024.
According to prosecutors, the three bar managers operated establishments in Kortrijk, a city in north-western Belgium, where the crimes took place.
Investigators have uncovered evidence suggesting the suspects may have discussed the attacks among themselves.
The investigation into the series of assaults led to the arrests of five men between Wednesday and Thursday.
Two of them appeared before an investigating judge, while the remaining two are still being questioned by detectives. A fifth man was released after being interviewed by authorities.
The charges against the suspects include rape, sexual assault, and the illegal administration of harmful substances. Officials believe that drugs such as ketamine, a hallucinogenic anesthetic commonly abused recreationally, were secretly mixed into the women’s drinks.
Victims reportedly consumed alcohol-laced shots, often with amaretto flavor, before waking up groggy and disoriented—either in unfamiliar locations or in their own beds, with clear signs of sexual abuse.
READ ALSO: LVMP Sergeant Accused of Secretly Filming Bathrooms to Satisfy ‘Fetish’
Tom Janssens, spokesperson for the Western Flanders public prosecutor’s office, spoke to Flemish public television VRT, describing the disturbing nature of the assaults: “The young women were offered shots of alcohol, after which they woke up the next morning groggy in an unknown bed or in their own bed with clear evidence of sexual abuse.”
This investigation has shocked the local community and drawn widespread attention to the dangers of drink-spiking.
The authorities continue to press forward with their inquiry, and the accused men face serious legal consequences, with potential charges that could lead to lengthy prison sentences if convicted.
