Lawyer Walter Van Steenbrugge risks prosecution for participation in a criminal organization at drug lab in Lendelede

On September 8, 2020, the dish invaded an old pigsty on a farm in Lendelede. Synthetic drugs were produced there on a large scale. In total, up to two tons of amphetamines could be produced, making the drug lab one of the largest ever discovered in our province.

The public prosecutor is now requesting the referral of a total of 25 suspects to the criminal court. One of them is lawyer Walter Van Steenbrugge, although the public prosecutor does not want to confirm this. The council chamber will decide on Friday 19 August.

What happened that September 8, 2020?

In the judicial investigation into the production and export of narcotics, the West Flemish Federal Judicial Police (FGP) carried out a series of house searches on 8 September 2020. A large lab for the production of synthetic drugs was indeed rolled up on a farm in Lendelede. Up to two tons of amphetamines could be produced in an old pigsty. According to the prosecutor’s office, dangerous chemicals were also present. It would even have been the largest drug lab ever in Belgium.

The intervention in Lendelede did not go smoothly. For example, a suspect fled into the fields, so that a search operation had to be launched. Detection dogs and a helicopter were also used. Thanks to that manhunt, the FGP and the local police zones Vlas, Midow and Gavers were finally able to arrest the man. Another suspect then hid in an old cesspool. However, he became overcome by the poisonous gases and even ended up in a coma for a while.

Booked out?

In the first phase, nine suspects were eventually arrested by the investigating judge. Master Walter Van Steenbrugge acted in the file as a lawyer for a suspect. In his role as counsel, he would have gone beyond his means. That should be apparent from a wiretapped telephone conversation. That is why the public prosecutor wants to prosecute him for membership of a criminal organization.

For the contacts with the same client, master Nancy Vanhee is also suspected of this. Their lawyers are likely to press for a suspension of charges, but the defense declined to comment on the substance of the case. The public prosecutor will also communicate about the matter at the earliest after the session of the council chamber.

A total of 27 people were suspected in the course of the investigation. However, two suspects have died in the meantime, so it will have to be established that the criminal proceedings for them have expired. The public prosecutor will ask the chambers to refer the 25 other suspects to the criminal court. Five suspects are currently in custody.