Six people have been arrested and detained in Belgium following a series of raids on March 11, 2026, authorities confirmed. The operation resulted in the seizure of approximately 80,000 euros, narcotics, and various luxury goods.
According to the Brussels prosecutor’s office, those arrested face charges including the possession and sale of narcotics, with one individual also facing charges related to the illegal possession of a weapon. A seventh person was released under conditions. The arrests arrive as Belgium continues to grapple with security concerns following the 2016 terrorist attacks.
Previous Criminal Network
The investigation is ongoing, and authorities have declined to release further details at this time. The Brussels Council Chamber extended the arrest warrants for the suspects on March 16, according to reports. The case highlights the continued efforts to disrupt criminal networks operating in the region.
Sources indicate that some of the suspects are known to authorities, though this has not been officially confirmed. At least one of the individuals had previously appeared in court as part of the “Peterbos II” trial in 2022, which involved 31 defendants linked to the Peterbos housing estate and the Lemmens Square area.
The area around Lemmens Square has been a significant hub for drug trafficking in Brussels for nearly two decades. Between 2008 and 2010, the “Lemmens gang” reportedly controlled approximately 20 businesses and establishments in the neighborhood, using them as drug distribution points. Key figures in the network were convicted by the Brussels Court of Appeal in 2014 and again in 2017, with 15 million euros in assets confiscated.
