A Belgian national, a 50-year-old man, who was sought by his country’s authorities, was arrested in Alicante by the National Police while traveling with his two-year-old son in the car. The child had been taken from Belgium without the mother’s consent, despite her custody rights.
The fugitive was apprehended in Alicante amid ongoing custody disputes with his ex-wife over their son. In early April, he had planned to leave the youngest child in a Belgian creche, where the mother would later collect him. Instead, he departed the country by vehicle and disappeared.
Belgian authorities traced him to Antwerp, after which he boarded a boat—possibly heading toward Mallorca—in a move that extended the investigation. An European Arrest Warrant was issued for him, covering both his status as a suspect and the missing child case.
The suspect resurfaced in Alicante a few days earlier, following a period during which investigators had lost track of him in Mallorca. Two officers from the Northern District Police Station intercepted a car with Belgian plates, initiating a routine check that led to the discovery of the active European arrest warrant and the formal arrest.
At the time of the arrest, the two-year-old boy was admitted to a hospital, and the detainee was taken into custody as authorities prepared to hand the child over to the mother, who retains custody of the minor.
The detainee now faces potential criminal charges and a possible custodial sentence. He has been referred to the Central Court No. 5 of the National Supreme Court, where the extradition request and related legal proceedings will be processed.
Authorities note that the case involves cross-border cooperation within the European Union and highlights ongoing efforts to protect parental rights and the welfare of missing children. The incident continues to unfold as prosecutors and police coordinate with Belgian authorities to resolve the custody matter and return the child to his mother according to legal channels.