Officers from the Brussels West Local Police Service discovered 920,000 counterfeit cigarettes and 28,000 euro in cash following a search of a vehicle and properties in the municipality of Sint-Jans-Molenbeek on Saturday. In a press statement released on Wednesday, the police said that 2 suspects have been detained and the Brussels Prosecutor’s Office is now handling the case.
On Saturday 28 March a police patrol was in a street in Molenbeek close to the boundary between Molenbeek and Anderlecht. Two people that were inside a car caught the police officers’ attention. The vehicle’s lights were on and both people that were inside that car appeared to be doing something to its dashboard. The police officers found this suspicious and decided to search the vehicle and the two people that were inside it.
The police say that the driver was very nervous and spoke quickly. Both people inside the car were known to the police.
Properties searched
The police officers found a large sum of money inside the vehicle and on the two suspects' person. This raised concerns that they might be involved in money laundering.
There were also indications that the 2 were involved in the trade in counterfeit cigarettes. 2 properties were search and 28,515 euro and £350 in cash were found, alongside 92 boxes of counterfeit cigarettes, containing a total of around 920,000 counterfeit cigarettes”.
Several sets of car keys, key rings, a garage remote control, mobile phones and passports were also seized. The suspects were questioned and their case is now in the hands of the public prosecutor’s office.”