Drug seizures at Brussels Airport surge, with sharp rise in cannabis and ketamine

Customs officers intercepted four times more cannabis and 10 times more ketamine at Brussels Airport this year compared to 2024. The amount of drugs found in postal packages passing through the airport also rose, the Customs and Excise Department of the FPS Finance revealed on Tuesday.

Seizures from passengers increased particularly steeply, with customs detecting 245kg of ketamine and 1,767kg of cannabis carried by passengers this year. Overall, the total volume of drugs intercepted from passengers rose by almost 50 per cent compared to 2024.

Postal packages also accounted for significant quantities. Customs recovered 429kg of cannabis and 172kg of ketamine from parcels, up from 378kg and 143kg respectively the year before. Large volumes of drugs were also intercepted in air cargo.

"Cannabis and ketamine are the drugs that criminals are moving on at the moment"

"Cannabis and ketamine are the drugs that criminals are moving on at the moment," said Kristian Vanderwaeren, head of the Belgian general administration of Customs and Excise, at a press conference on Tuesday. "Cannabis is mainly imported into Belgium, while ketamine is primarily exported."

Cannabis shipments mainly originate from the US, Canada and Thailand. Exports, particularly of ketamine, are largely destined for Australia, the US, New Zealand and Canada, where the drugs can be sold at significantly higher prices.

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In total, customs intercepted around 9 tonnes of drugs last year, almost double the volume recorded the previous year. Alongside cannabis and ketamine, officers also seized cocaine, mdma, ecstasy, meth, LSD and other substances.

Smugglers continue to use inventive concealment methods. Last year, drugs were found hidden in air conditioners, duplo blocks and art objects. New smuggling tactics are also emerging, including accomplices removing drug-laden luggage from baggage carousels and criminals misusing company names to ship illicit goods.

"We need to remain vigilant," Vanderwaeren said. "That is why we will also patrol more discreetly in the airport’s arrivals hall."

^{© BELGA PHOTO ERIC LALMAND}

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