Brussels Drug Violence Escalates as Rival Gangs Battle for Territory

Drug mafias reign supreme in Brussels where the traffic seems particularly lucrative, fueling rivalries between gangs in search of a monopoly on this territory. "The Brussels territory is highly disputed between mafia clans. A square meter is worth a lot of money. This is where the drugs are distributed among consumers and the rest of Europe. There is a lot of money to be made here," explains RTL Info Ine Van Wymersch, the new national drug commissioner.

"On the Brussels territory, we note the presence of Albanian mafias, with links to Italy and also France, but also gangs of the Moroccan mafia who are more involved in cannabis," adds the commissioner. In total, 9 murders related to drug trafficking have been recorded in Brussels since the beginning of the year. This figure does not take into account the violent clashes between rival gangs without fatalities. The authorities in the Belgian capital are well aware of the situation.

Created only 5 months ago, the national drug commissioner’s office is waging a fierce battle against drug trafficking. It aims, among other things, to create a "drug fund". "We will recover money from criminals and inject it, on the one hand, into the repressive approach, and on the other hand, into public health projects," details Ine Van Wymersch. The value of seizures of cocaine, hashish and cannabis, the most prevalent drugs in Belgium, can sometimes reach tens of thousands of euros.