Belgium’s Battle Against Organized Crime: A Growing Concern

As the European Union’s hub, Belgium has become a hotbed for organized crime, with Albanian and Dutch groups playing significant roles in the country’s illegal markets.

The Situation on the Ground

Foreign actors, including Italian mafias and Turkish criminal organizations, are increasingly involved in drug trafficking, arms trafficking, and human smuggling.
Belgian organized crime groups have intensified their efforts to control the drug trafficking market, leading to violent clashes between rival gangs.
Albanian Mafia has been linked to several high-profile incidents, including a brutal gang war that left several people dead.

State-Embedded Actors: A Growing Concern

Reports suggest that private sector actors are involved in money laundering schemes, particularly through real estate transactions in Dubai.
The government has been urged to improve transparency and accountability among parliamentarians and third-party contacts.

Criminal Justice and Security

Belgium’s judiciary is independent and guarantees due process in criminal trials.
The federal public prosecutor’s office has a dedicated section for organized crime, while the integrated police service works together to provide law enforcement.
However, both federal and local police forces are understaffed and face resource constraints, making it challenging to tackle organized crime effectively.

Economic and Financial Environment

Belgium has a solid legal framework to combat money laundering, but critics argue that the public prosecution office prioritizes investigations over money laundering.
A new collaborative platform against money laundering has been launched to address this issue.
The country’s competitiveness has improved, but tax rates, labor regulations, and tax laws remain problematic for businesses.

Belgium has policies in place to support victims of human trafficking and punish perpetrators.
However, the number of individuals who have entered the victim procedure remains low due to various factors, including migration myths and police officers’ lack of knowledge.
Civil society plays an important role in providing support services to vulnerable groups.

Conclusion

Belgium’s battle against organized crime is ongoing, with Albanian and Dutch groups playing significant roles. While efforts have been made to combat money laundering and human trafficking, concerns remain about state-embedded actors’ involvement in criminal activities.

The country must continue to strengthen its laws and institutions to effectively tackle organized crime and protect its citizens. Meanwhile, civil society must be supported in its efforts to provide vital services to vulnerable groups.