Drugs violence in Brussels could be orchestrated by imprisoned leaders

Two inmates are playing a leading role in the Brussels drug war from behind prison walls using clandestine phones, according to an investigation by La Capitale and Het Nieuwsblad newspapers.

Justice minister Annelies Verlinden (CD&V) said she was aware of the situation and wants to take targeted measures.

One of the men is said to have grown up in the Peterbos neighbourhood and leads a gang there with at least 30 members, mainly focused on drug trafficking in social housing districts.

The gang is alleged to have ties with the Algerian DZ Mafia, which turned to Brussels for a new base of operations after increased political and police pressure in Marseille.

“The housing estate [in Peterbos] is close to the main roads and easily accessible by car,” reads an explanation that Het Nieuwsblad found in a Brussels court ruling, which also noted the presence of several lookout posts to warn of the police and a mostly Flemish clientele.

The courts estimate that up to €35,000 a day can be made from the sale of cocaine in the area.

The leader of the gang was arrested in 2022 and sentenced to eight years in prison, with 30 other gang members also receiving sentences. But new evidence shows the leader continues to direct what remains of the gang from prison, urging expansion of membership and bowing to higher leadership based in France.

DZ Mafia allegedly aims to have the Peterbos gang take over the entire Brussels drug trade, but is colliding with the Clemenceau gang, whose leader is also in prison but able to direct gang activity while confined, in a territory dispute which is said to be the cause of the recent gun violence.

Justice minister Verlinden said she has a plan with various measures, including the use of jammers to disrupt mobile communications.

Dogs that can detect ICT equipment are also a possibility and are already being used by the federal police, though Verlinden said that more training was needed.

Finally, the prisons themselves can choose to isolate or transfer certain prisoners if it appears that they are continuing their criminal activities with the help of visitors or other inmates. One of the men allegedly involved has already been transferred to a Flemish prison.

In the meantime, authorities are continuing to carry out their work on the ground in Brussels, including a major action last Friday mainly aimed at fining the customers of drug dealers.

“This is how we tackle one of the causes of the drug trade,” said Brussels-Midi police chief Jurgen De Landsheer.

“This integrated approach is aimed at the common goal of guaranteeing safety and quality of life in our neighbourhoods.”

The action was carried out in cooperation with the Brussels public prosecutor's office and the immigration office and is part of a new phase in the fight against violence related to drug trafficking, the police force said.

Twelve people were immediately arrested for drug use during the operation and one person was arrested for drug dealing. Six people were then administratively arrested because they did not appear to have a valid residence permit.

“Five adults were immediately transferred to a detention centre and one unaccompanied minor was transferred to a shelter,” police said. “We also wrote two official reports for money laundering and confiscated €3,000 and $263.”

De Landsheer told Bruzz that the idea behind fining buyers is to tackle the problem close to the root.

“We are entering a new phase of our action plan against drugs: after securing the area and tackling the illegal economy surrounding drug trafficking, we’re now focusing on tackling the cause of the drug nuisance: the market,” he said.

“It's logical that where there are dealers, there are customers,” added Sousou Rhizlane of the Midi police zone.

“Drug users caught must pay the fine immediately, that way we make them think about their role in this story.”

Photo: Belga