The Federal Judicial Police has detained the members of a criminal organisation that was active on the Peterbos social housing estate in the Brussels municipality of Anderlecht. The gang was attempting to take over the trade in illegal narcotics in the whole of Brussels and the surrounding area.
Brussels police detain members of criminal gang with links to Marseille drugs gangs on Anderlecht social housing estate
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The Brussels prosecutor’s office says that the gang had close links to drugs gangs in Marseille.
“The members of this group didn’t hesitate to use armed violence and even attempted murder or kidnapping to intimidate their rivals and force them to give up their territory”.
Following an investigation that had gone on for months detectives carried out simultaneous searches at various properties. 12 suspects were detained in both Belgium and France.
“The large-scale police operation has led to the dismantling of an international criminal organisation that was active in the sale of narcotics. The organisation that had links with Marseille was specialised in the trade in cocaine and marihuana”.
Strategic location
The gang operated from flats on the Peterbos social housing estate in the Brussels municipality of Anderlecht.
“From this strategic location they were able to plan and coordinate their illegal activities throughout Brussels and beyond. The organisation aimed to take over the market in illegal drugs in the Belgian capital and didn’t hesitate to use illegal methods in order to do so”, the prosecutor’s office said.
Detectives say that they are convinced that the arrests have dealt the drugs gang a severe blow.