An imprisoned former leader of a criminal gang associated with a shooting incident involving a nine-year-old girl is awaiting a decision on his potential release from custody. Huseyin Baybasin, 69, known as Europe’s Pablo Escobar, was sentenced to life in the Netherlands for involvement in homicides and drug trafficking. Reports from the Dutch newspaper Trouw indicate that a ruling on his release is expected before March.
If granted release, Baybasin will not be allowed to stay in the Netherlands or return to Turkey, his home country. His legal representatives have disclosed that another European nation has agreed to accept him, although they have not revealed the specific country.
Baybasin orchestrated the export of large quantities of heroin while leading the Hackney Bombers criminal organization, sparking conflicts with rival groups like the Tottenham Turks. These clashes resulted in numerous fatalities, abductions, and the shooting of a young girl in East London. Baybasin has been detained in the Netherlands since 1998 and faces challenges in securing necessary documents for his release due to issues regarding his residency status.
Despite maintaining his innocence and alleging political pressure from Turkish authorities, Baybasin faces a pivotal decision on his potential pardon by March, evaluating his progress in societal reintegration. The legacy of the Hackney Bombers, once under Baybasin’s command alongside his brothers, continues to resonate through criminal networks, with one sibling currently serving a lengthy prison term for drug trafficking offenses.