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Belgium’s Struggle Against Organized Crime: A Complex Web of Threats

Brussels - Belgium is facing a complex web of organized crime threats, with foreign actors playing a significant role in the country’s criminal markets. The Belgian government has recognized the issue and taken measures to combat it, but challenges remain.

The Threats

According to a recent report, Balkan organized crime groups collaborate with Italian mafias and Turkish criminal organizations, primarily involved in:

• Drug trafficking
• Arms trafficking
• Human smuggling

Dutch organized crime groups are also active in Belgium, engaging in all aspects of drug trafficking, including: + Cannabis production + Import + Export + Money laundering + Labor exploitation

Romanian organized crime groups are involved in: + Human trafficking + Sexual exploitation of women + Labor exploitation of men

Competition between Italian and Albanian organized crime actors has intensified violent attempts to control the drug trafficking market, with longer-term implications and actor shifts during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Sophistication of Foreign Actors

The highly sophisticated command structures of foreign actors make them well-suited to adapt to changes and exploit economic and social vulnerabilities. Belgium’s proximity to major trafficking routes for drugs and human smuggling makes it vulnerable to these threats.

Government Efforts

Belgium has ratified various international conventions against organized crime and has a national legal framework that covers all major crime markets of interest, apart from non-renewable resource crimes. The country also collaborates with:

• Europol
• Interpol
• Regional cooperation bodies

The government has adopted a National Security Strategy (NSS) which includes the fight against organized crime as a national priority. Belgium’s judiciary is fully independent and guarantees due process in criminal trials, and the federal public prosecutor’s office has a dedicated section for organized crime.

Challenges

Despite these efforts, challenges remain:

• The country’s ports and airports are key transit hubs for illicit products and have been identified as attractive targets for organized crime.
• Understaffing and insufficient resources at both the federal and local police levels hinder efforts to combat organized crime.
• The public prosecution office has faced criticism for prioritizing the investigation and prosecution of predicate offenses over money laundering.

Civil Society’s Role

Civil society plays an important role in providing support services to vulnerable groups. However, press freedom in Belgium is under threat due to:

• Increasing police violence
• Online hate against journalists
• A government directive that violates the Constitution’s stipulation of press freedom

Journalists covering demonstrations against public health measures imposed during the COVID-19 pandemic have been subjected to intimidation and violence from protesters, leading some journalists to quit altogether or refuse to cover specific topics.

Conclusion

Belgium is facing a complex and multifaceted organized crime threat. While the government has taken steps to combat it, challenges remain. The country’s proximity to major trafficking routes, understaffing of law enforcement agencies, and prioritization of predicate offenses over money laundering all contribute to the ongoing struggle against organized crime.

Civil society plays an important role in providing support services to vulnerable groups, but press freedom is under threat. To effectively combat organized crime, Belgium must address these challenges and work towards a more coordinated and effective response.