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

Customs officers intercepted four times more cannabis and ten 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 245 kilograms of ketamine and 1,767 kilograms of cannabis carried by travellers 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 429 kilograms of cannabis and 172 kilograms of ketamine from parcels, up from 378 kilograms and 143 kilograms 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 United States, Canada and Thailand. Exports, particularly of ketamine, are largely destined for Australia, the United States, New Zealand and Canada, where the drugs can be sold at significantly higher prices.

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Nine tonnes of drugs

In total, customs intercepted around nine 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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