Brussels Appoints 'Gold Commander' to Tackle Drug Violence Across Six Police Zones

Brussels is taking decisive action against escalating drug-related violence by appointing a 'Gold Commander' to coordinate efforts across its six police zones. The decision, made by Brussels mayors, aims to centralize command and enhance the effectiveness of law enforcement in tackling the growing problem. Michel Goovaerts, the current chief of the Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police zone, has been tasked with this critical role.

In parallel with the appointment of the Gold Commander, Interior Minister Bernard Quintin is bolstering police resources by deploying 50 additional officers from the federal police. This reinforcement is intended to increase police presence in the most affected neighborhoods, especially during evening and nighttime hours. Investigators will also receive enhanced resources to pursue and dismantle the criminal networks fueling the violence.

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The violence is linked to conflicts between criminal networks active in drug trafficking. This is unacceptable and requires an immediate and visible response on the ground.

Brussels Mayor Philippe Close stated that the violence is directly linked to conflicts between criminal networks involved in drug trafficking, calling the situation "unacceptable" and demanding an immediate, visible response. The coordinated command structure will integrate various police units, including K9 units, special forces, and intervention units, to optimize their deployment, particularly during peak times of criminal activity. Furthermore, by October, all dispatching for Brussels police zones is slated to be consolidated under Safe.brussels, the regional security agency, with an enhanced ARGOS unit for camera footage analysis and license plate recognition.

Minister Quintin described the situation as a "national emergency," highlighting the new dimension of violence involving "war weapons." He emphasized that combating organized crime is a shared responsibility requiring the commitment of all necessary resources. The decision to appoint a Gold Commander echoes a similar strategy employed during New Year's Eve celebrations to manage public order, indicating a move towards unified command in critical situations.

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The fact that a police station is targeted shows how serious the situation is. The new dimension of the violence, with war weapons, requires us to deploy all necessary resources.