A police operation is underway on Tuesday morning against an Albanian gang that is involved in the production, distribution and sale of drugs. Police have entered serval properties in the Brussels municipality of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek and possible elsewhere where it is believed that the gang is growing cannabis. The Francophone public broadcaster RTBF reports that around 200 officers have been deployed.
Months of detective work have preceded the operation. This has led police to several address both in the Brussels area and in Hainaut Province.
The gang’s activities are not linked to the recent spate of drug-related shooting in Brussels.
Last week Brussels police were able to detain members of an Albanian drugs gang after several properties were searched across Belgium.
The prosecutor’s office says that the gang used a network of properties in residential areas to house cannabis plantations. 11 plantations were discovered and 23kg of cannabis was confiscated. 14 suspects were arrested.