Police in North Brussels made 333 arrests in the area of the Brussels North Station in July and August. Arrests were carried out for a variety of crimes including drug trafficking and theft.
The area around the Brussels North Station has had a reputation for being an extremely difficult neighbourhood for many years. It attracts people battling addictions or with mental health problems. There are squats. There is drug trafficking and prostitution. In late 2022, tensions in the neighbourhood came to a head after a police officer was stabbed to death.
Since then, police have increased their presence in the neighbourhood and regularly conduct operations to reduce the amount of crime in the neighbourhood and increase security for local residents and people using the neighbourhood.
333 arrests in July and August
‘After a slight decrease in the number of security operations in the district during the Euros, we have stepped up security ops in the North District,’ the police now say. ‘In July and August, police officers made 333 arrests.’
During the same period, police also seized over 4 kilos of narcotics (cannabis, cocaine, etc.) and over 1,000 pills (amphetamines, lyrica, ecstasy, etc.).
‘We also carried out operations specifically targeting pickpockets in the neighbourhood and on the Brabantstraat. Since the beginning of August, officers caught 12 suspects in the act of stealing or selling stolen goods, and five people selling or possessing narcotics.’
In addition, police also regularly crack down on commercial businesses and liquor stores that do not comply with the law: ‘Nearly 40 businesses were checked this summer. Checks on a newsagent’s on Liedtsplein led to the seizure of 1,273 litres of nitrous oxide (laughing gas).’
The newsagent was arrested but has since been released under conditions pending trial.