Police and judicial authorities in East Flanders have broken up a large international gang that was distributing large quantities of drugs throughout Europe via Belgium. The case came to light last year when police found large quantities of drugs during a check on the E17.
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International drugs gang broken up after motorway inspection
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Early on 7 September 2024, a team from the East Flanders traffic police noticed four men along the E17 in Waasmunster transferring material from cars to a Lithuanian truck. During the inspection, the officers found 225kg of ketamine and more than 200l of precursors – chemical substances that can be converted into drugs. The four men were arrested.
Further investigation found that a gang was smuggling drugs via Belgium to the UK, Germany, France and the Netherlands.
This week, the police and judicial authorities carried out 11 house searches in Belgium, the Netherlands and the UK. The East Flanders federal judicial police arrested seven suspects during the operation, five of whom were detained by the investigating judge in Dendermonde.
The gang distributed various types of drugs across Europe, including cocaine, ketamine, heroin, crystal meth and MDMA. Large quantities of drugs were seized during the investigation.
In Belgium, this included 225kg of ketamine, 150kg of amphetamines, 100kg of hashish, 30kg of heroin and more than 200l of precursors. In the Netherlands, 31kg of cocaine and 100kg of marijuana were seized. Police also found more than €5 million in cash.
The gang mainly used trucks to transport the drugs, but they also used postal parcels. They also sold drugs via the internet and through employees in various European countries.
Twelve suspects have been arrested: 10 in Belgium and two in the Netherlands.
