Fourteen arrested in large-scale drug trafficking operation in Brussels

Brussels authorities have dismantled a sophisticated criminal organization involved in drug trafficking and territorial disputes across the municipalities of Anderlecht, Forest, and Saint-Gilles. The investigation, initiated in October 2025 under the direction of an investigating judge, targeted a network suspected of not only dealing in narcotics but also engaging in other criminal activities.

The operation involved 18 simultaneous searches, supported by federal judicial police and local law enforcement from Alost and Zennevallei. It resulted in 14 judicial arrests and one administrative arrest, with 11 individuals subsequently placed at the disposal of the investigating judge. Authorities seized approximately 30,000 euros in cash, nearly 25.5 kilograms of narcotics, five handguns, three airsoft guns, brass knuckles, several vehicles, luxury watches, and around fifty mobile phones, along with computers and tablets.

Some discoveries during the searches also led to separate proceedings for suspected money laundering. The seized items will undergo further analysis as the investigation continues. The drug trafficking activities were reportedly concentrated in residential areas of Rhode-Saint-Genèse, Lasne, Woluwe-Saint-Pierre, and Watermael-Boitsfort.

This operation is framed as part of a comprehensive strategy to combat criminal organizations fueling the drug trade and the associated violence. Prosecutors noted a recent increase in shootings, explosions, and other violent acts linked to conflicts between drug networks, which endanger public safety and quality of life in several Brussels neighborhoods. The objective is to permanently disrupt these organizations by targeting their leadership, financial resources, logistics, and networks.