Maaseik (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Police identified a drug laboratory inside the Maaseik basement of a residence. Police investigators located the lab because they identified identical drug-making facilities at an Antwerp agricultural company in Putte. Two suspects were arrested.
The police discovered a drug laboratory hidden in the basement of a property located in Maaseik. The authorities located the drug lab after they had followed evidence that led to the basement of an agricultural company in Putte Antwerp. The police arrested two individuals because of their involvement in this operation.The authorities executed their first raid on a Putte farm in February.
A concealed cellar entrance led investigators to a vast quantity of substances used for synthetic drug manufacturing. Police conducted house searches in Borgerhout, Lille Mol Putte and Wijnegem after this discovery. Police operations led to seven male arrests, of which four suspects remained incarcerated.
The house searches revealed information that led to the discovery of possible drug laboratory operations at the house located on Frederik Maldersstraat in Maaseik. Today’s authorities conducted a raid of the location and discovered drug manufacturing materials hidden in the basement. Two extra suspects received arrest charges, and they will stand before the investigating judge during today’s proceedings.
The judicial lab has come to the location to investigate. Civil protection is also on-site to dismantle it in a safe and correct manner. That may take some time,
says spokesperson for the Antwerp public prosecutor’s office Kristof Aerts.
What is the background of drug labs and law enforcement in Belgium?
Belgium has faced growing challenges with synthetic drug production in recent years, particularly in regions like Antwerp and Limburg. According to Europol, Belgium is a key hub for drug trafficking in Europe, with synthetic drugs like amphetamines and ecstasy being produced in clandestine labs. In 2022 alone, Belgian authorities dismantled over 30 drug labs, seizing millions of euros worth of drugs and equipment.
Historically, the rise of drug labs in Belgium is linked to its strategic location in Europe, extensive port facilities, and organized crime networks. The Port of Antwerp, one of Europe’s largest, has been a focal point for drug smuggling. Law enforcement has intensified efforts to combat this issue with cross-border collaborations and advanced surveillance technologies.
