Teen Hitman Arrested in Belgium for Fuengirola Murder

A 19-year-old Belgian citizen identified as Shah C. was arrested in Laarne, Belgium, on June 25, 2026, under a European Arrest Warrant issued by the Netherlands. According to East Flanders prosecutors and reporting from La Opinión de Málaga, the suspect is accused of operating as a hired hitman in the December 7, 2024, fatal shooting of a 25-year-old Dutch man inside a cannabis club in Fuengirola, Spain.

The Fuengirola Shooting and the Investigation Across Borders

The homicide took place on the Costa del Sol when the victim, a Dutch national in his twenties, was shot while working at a cannabis establishment in Fuengirola. Investigators determined that the suspect, who was 17 years old at the time of the offense, utilized a semiautomatic firearm. According to prosecutorial findings reported by regional outlets, the gunman was originally recruited to target an entirely different individual.

The case involves extensive international coordination between Spanish, Belgian, and Dutch judicial authorities.

In addition to the primary suspect, Dutch and Belgian law enforcement targeted multiple co-conspirators. A seventh suspect died during an exchange of gunfire with Dutch police officers during the execution of the arrest warrants.

Extradition Complications and Legal Hurdles

Shah C. was first captured in Ghent, Belgium, in June 2025 under a prior European Arrest Warrant. He was extradited to Spain two months later and placed in a juvenile detention center. However, under Spanish statutory limitations, the maximum legal pre-trial detention period for a minor without the commencement of a trial or formal requests for extended precautionary measures is nine months.

That statutory window closed in May 2026, resulting in the suspect’s release and subsequent disappearance. This prompted Dutch authorities to issue a fresh European Arrest Warrant, which successfully led to his second apprehension in northern Belgium on June 25, 2026. Following this second arrest, the suspect was transferred to the Netherlands.

Jurisdictional agreements between the judiciary in the Netherlands and the Juvenile Court of Málaga established that Dutch courts will handle the prosecution, given that the primary victim was a Dutch citizen. This cross-border cooperation highlights the logistical frameworks required when dealing with transnational criminal syndicates operating across European jurisdictions.

Transnational Organized Crime on the Costa del Sol

The incident underscores ongoing law enforcement challenges regarding criminal elements operating between Northern Europe and Spain’s southern coast.

As the legal proceedings shift definitively to the Netherlands, where Shah C. and his co-defendants will face trial, the case stands as a stark reminder of the reach of European judicial cooperation. The dismantling of this alleged contract-killing network leaves behind a complex judicial trail that will test the resolve of prosecutors across three nations.