Call it higher education.
Police found drugs at the office of Caroline Désir, education minister of the French-speaking southern region of Wallonia, during a search conducted in December.
On Thursday evening, newspaper La Dernière Heure first reported that police had found more than 50 bags of cocaine in the minister’s office.
The Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office confirmed Friday that narcotics were discovered in the minister’s office and said a member of her staff was arrested and charged with sale and possession of narcotics.
Eight other suspects were charged with the sale and possession of narcotics in association — but two of them have been conditionally released.
Désir confirmed that she learned that an assistant at her office had been arrested on drug trafficking charges on December 13.
She said she dismissed the staffer “for breach of trust” and they then searched his office for “criminal items,” finding “50 bags containing white powder.”
According to La Dernière Heure, police also found €10,000 in cash in the home of the arrested employee.
Brussels Public Prosecutor’s Office said the investigation is still ongoing. Désir’s Cabinet could not immediately be reached for further comment.