Drug trafficking continues to dominate federal police investigations
Most of the federal police's investigative capacity remains focused on drug-related crime, according to its annual report presented on Wednesday. "Tackling organised crime remains a key priority," commissioner general Eric Snoeck said. "In doing so, we are targeting the economic model of the criminals."
Last year, Belgium's Federal Judicial Police (FJP) launched 4,011 new investigations. These included 804 money laundering cases, 693 drug-related cases, 600 violent crimes, 342 thefts and 252 economic and financial crimes. Together, these five categories accounted for two-thirds of all investigations opened.
The FJP identified 58,937 suspects in ongoing investigations, an average of 160 per day. Most were linked to drugs (11,120), money laundering (8,317) and violence (5,427). In 2025, courts handed down 1,521 convictions, resulting in a total of 4,756.5 years of imprisonment.
More than 195 million euros in criminal assets were seized. This figure is slightly lower than in 2024 and does not include amounts recovered through criminal settlements, the market value of seized illegal goods or recoveries by other authorities. According to Snoeck, the results confirm "the relevance and robustness" of the strategy aimed at disrupting criminal business models by targeting financial flows.
Drug-related arrests increase
Drug crime accounts for the largest share of the FJP's investigative capacity, at 20 per cent. Snoeck also highlighted the preventive dimension of the fight against drug trafficking. For example, 18,175 security screenings were carried out in seaports, including Antwerp, resulting in 310 negative security advisories.
Belgium remains an important hub for drug traffickers, particularly through the Antwerp port area, which serves as a key entry point for cocaine smuggling. Last year, the maritime police made 207 drug-related arrests there, compared with 128 in 2024. Of those arrested, 41 were minors, more than twice as many as the previous year.
Belgium also remains a producer of drugs, especially synthetic substances. In 2025, police dismantled 41 laboratories, a record. One in three was located in Limburg, while others were found in Liège, Hainaut and Luxembourg.
159 terrorism cases
The fight against radicalisation and terrorism also remains high on the agenda. Thanks to improved data exchange between police services, 159 new terrorism cases were opened last year. "That does not mean that 159 attacks were foiled," Snoeck said.
The commissioner general emphasised that all recommendations made by the parliamentary inquiry committee into the attacks of 22 March 2016 "have been implemented or are currently being implemented".
Commissioner general Eric Snoeck. © BELGA PHOTO BENOIT DOPPAGNE
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