Cocaine smuggler released because of lack of interpreters

A Brazilian man who was caught at Brussels Airport on Friday evening trying to smuggle in cocaine has been released without facing charges or even being interrogated – because no Portuguese interpreter could be found. The 25-year-old’s luggage, which was completely shrink-wrapped, contained 4kg of cocaine. The man appeared before an examining magistrate, but his lawyer said the man had to be released when it turned out that no interpreter was available. Court affairs in Belgium may only be handled in one of the country’s official languages. The man was taken back to the airport by taxi and ordered to return to Brazil.