Brussels is experiencing a sharp increase in drug-related shootings as organized crime groups vie for control of lucrative drug-dealing points across the city. According to Jurgen de Landsheer, chief of Brussels South Police, some drug-dealing locations can generate up to \u20ac50,000 ($58,000; \u00a343,000) per day. "Things have changed in the past six months," stated Murielle, a resident who has witnessed drug transactions occurring openly in her neighborhood. "The business has intensified. Sometimes you even see consumers queuing to buy drugs. And now gangs are fighting over this spot."
Police reports indicate that over 200 drug-dealing points operate throughout Brussels, fueling a more violent criminal landscape. This year alone, more than 65 shootings have been recorded in the Belgian capital. The escalating drug crime in Brussels mirrors situations in other European cities, such as Marseille, France.
The widespread availability of cocaine in Europe is a contributing factor, with major ports like Antwerp, located approximately 40 kilometers (25 miles) from Brussels, reporting record seizures of the drug in recent years. The port's role as an entry point for narcotics underscores the broader challenges of combating drug trafficking on the continent. "There is no magic solution. We need prevention over repression," said de Landsheer.
