Brussels drug ring: 45 suspects referred to court

Belgian prosecutors have sent 45 individuals to the correctional court over a large‑scale drug trafficking network operating around the Peterbos neighbourhood in Brussels. The group is linked to the Marseille‑based drug mafia and was coordinated, in part, by 30‑year‑old Imad B., known as “Mara”, who allegedly ran the organization from prison using a smuggled smartphone. The investigation also uncovered connections to Panama and South‑American cocaine routes.

Earlier, a police operation on 26 May detained 27 people suspected of supplying, storing, packaging and distributing cannabis and cocaine in the Saint‑Guidon metro area and Peterbos. Authorities seized large quantities of narcotics, cash, firearms, vehicles and digital devices. Among those arrested were ten held on remand, a minor transferred to a youth protection facility, and an irregular migrant placed in a closed centre.