“No free lunch for organised crime" vows minister as entry checks are launched

Many countries are reinforcing checks on illegal migration on their borders.  Belgium is now even performing checks in the interior of the country.

Coaches were stopped at Mons (Wallonia), some 30km from the French border.  The checks are carried out on buses entering the country but also on vehicles leaving Belgium.

Roads police director Koen Ricour: "There’s considerable coach and bus traffic at this time of year.  Our officers on motorbike guide the vehicles off the motorway to a motorway carpark where general checks are carried out.  The driver, the passengers, but also stowed luggage are checked to ensure people are here legally and no drugs are being brought into the country.”

As long as it’s not raining passengers are instructed to leave the vehicle while the checks proceed.

Several passengers welcomed the checks: “It’s a good initiative” one passenger told our Europe correspondent Rob Heirbaut. “It’s good for everybody’s safety!”

Also checks on trains

Last Friday similar checks were carried out aboard trains at the Brussels South Station. The responsible ministers are upbeat.

Belgian migration minister Anneleen Van Bossuyt (Flemish nationalist): “Six undocumented migrants were removed from the trains at Brussels South.  4 have been instructed to leave Belgium.  2 have been incarcerated in a closed repatriation centre with a view to repatriation to their country of origin or to the country where they qualify for residence”.

Belgian interior minister Bernard Quintin: “This is also political messaging.  We are telling our people that the Belgian state is doing everything to guarantee security and law and order.  It’s also a message to criminals saying that organised crime can’t count on a free lunch in Belgium”.