As part of an investigation into drug-related crime, the police have raided a large drug laboratory in Mechelen and an illegal cigarette factory in Aartselaar. A total of 5 properties were searched and 5 people were arrested.
The investigation began in May of this year after German customs discovered a shipment of over 1 tonne of cocaine at Hamburg docks. Kristof Aerts of the Antwerp public prosecutor's office told VRT News that “In the course of investigation, it became apparent that the criminal organisation involved was active here in Belgium”.
Officers from the Belgian Federal Police Service searched 5 properties in and around Mechelen on Tuesday.
“During these searches, a drug laboratory was discovered in a warehouse in Mechelen and an illegal cigarette factory was discovered in Aartselaar”, Mr Aerts said.
At the drug laboratory oils were produced that were then used in the production of amphetamines. At the warehouse in Aartselaar, police confiscated around 1 million cigarettes, 20 mobile phones, 40,000 euro in cash, 3 computers and several luxury cars.
During the operation 1 woman and 4 men were arrested. They are all between 30 and 40 years’ old and are Belgian, Ukrainian, Russian, Lithuanian and German nationals.