The Belgian government has announced plans to deploy military forces in Brussels due to escalating drug-related violence.
The situation has deteriorated significantly, driven largely by North African drug gangs, including the notorious Morkomafia. This response comes as nearly 40% of the city’s population is composed of foreigners.
Home Minister Bernard Quintin stated, “We don’t want to lose our territory… the army must protect our integrity.” He emphasized that while military presence typically guards borders, it also plays a role in the fight against drug crime.
Quintin added, “We just need to finalize some details. Anyone who hasn’t seen an emergency in the past year must be living in a different reality.”
The Minister mentioned that discussions with local police influenced his decision. Gangs, he noted, no longer fear the police but do feel threatened by soldiers.
“By deploying the Army, the state demonstrates its commitment to use all available resources for citizen safety,” he remarked, indicating soldiers would be working in tandem with police units.
He cautioned, “Belgium still has no-go zones; there are areas where it’s challenging, and we risk losing control.”
Brussels has seen a troubling increase in violence, with 20 shootings recorded in one summer alone, totaling 57 fatalities this year. Prosecutor Julian Monil shared that over 6,000 adults and nearly 900 minors have been arrested in 2024, a significant rise from previous years.
Of those detained, around 1,250 are believed to be drug dealers, often involved in violent turf wars, sometimes involving Kalashnikovs. Similar to criminal groups in Sweden and Denmark, foreign gangs frequently employ minors due to their lighter sentencing.
Prosecutors have urged enhanced security in prisons to stop incarcerated gang leaders from continuing to orchestrate operations while behind bars. Monil also called for expedited deportation of foreign criminals.
Quintin disclosed that while specific deployment areas outside of Brussels still need to be confirmed, the “comprehensive plan” aims to encompass the entire metropolitan region and other cities affected by drug trafficking, including Antwerp and Liège.
This strategy bears resemblance to tactics employed by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has deployed National Guard troops in Washington, D.C. Crime rates reportedly dropped by 22% in the week following such to D.C. deployment.
