Nine dealers arrested after searches in drug file

Eleven arrested after house searches

On behalf of the investigating judge in Bruges, the Federal Judicial Police of West Flanders, together with various local police zones, carried out a series of house searches on Wednesday morning at suspected drug dealers and drug couriers from Ostend, Bruges, Oudenburg, Maasmechelen, Lanaken and Hasselt. 11 people were arrested on Belgian soil. Simultaneously, there was international cooperation with the Dutch authorities, whereby 3 people were deprived of their freedom in the Maastricht region.

Drugs, cash, packaging material found

One fugitive inmate was also arrested during the operation and immediately transferred to prison. Investigators found dealers’ quantities of narcotics and packaging materials, cash, and telephones in the homes that were searched. A vehicle used for drug trafficking was seized.

Top men in the Netherlands also arrested

The in-depth investigation of the Federal Judicial Police of West Flanders focused on the various layers of the criminal organization, whereby the top men were also targeted. After all, the West Flemish investigators established that couriers were sent and supplied from the Netherlands to provide dealers in several Belgian cities with the necessary quantities of drugs. In that regard, three arrests were made in the Netherlands. The surrender of suspects who were intercepted in the Netherlands will be requested. Nine suspects were brought before the investigating judge. They were all arrested for their involvement in the organization.

“Supply line for drugs has been cut”

“With this operation, a supply line for drugs from the Netherlands has been cut,” says the public prosecutor. “Drug criminals try to make clever use of national borders in order to stay out of harm’s way as much as possible, but this file shows that international cooperation pays off. In addition to the members of the organization who were active in Belgium, three people were also arrested in the Netherlands who were in the West. Flanders will be allowed to account for their part within the organization before the criminal court.”