The identity of the young Albanian man who was found hanging from a road sign near "Westland Shopping" in Brussels has been revealed.
The victim has been identified as Bekim Halilaj, 29, originally from the village of Bicaj in Kukës. Belgian authorities are investigating all leads, including that of organized crime.
The possibility of suicide has not been ruled out, but the way the body was found has raised strong suspicions that it could be an execution related to conflicts between criminal groups.
But what is Bekim Halilaj's criminal past?
According to British media, in 2017 Bekim Halilaj, 21, was arrested in Southampton along with three other Albanians, Nuri Muçmataj, Fitim Halilaj and Tamas Hela, as part of a cocaine trafficking group.
During an operation in April 2017, police seized a van with £140,000 of pure cocaine and £180,000 in cash. Bekim Halilaj was arrested in an apartment where drugs worth £10,000 were also found.
He was sentenced to 7 years in prison, while the four members of the group received a combined 25 years in prison.