The rise of Albanian criminal networks in Belgium
Organized crime in Belgium is facing a new reality. According to recent reports, criminal networks of Albanian origin now occupy an increasing place in the country's criminal landscape. This development is worrying authorities, who are observing an increasingly sophisticated structuring of these groups within the national territory.
These organizations are primarily involved in large-scale drug trafficking. They have managed to develop efficient logistical networks to import and distribute illicit products, not only in Belgium but also to other European countries. This activity generates considerable profits that require complex operations to be reinvested into the legal economy.
Money laundering has become a central pillar of their activities. By using shell companies and various investments, these groups seek to conceal the illegal origin of their income. This strategy makes the work of police services and the judiciary particularly difficult, as financial flows are often mixed with perfectly normal commercial transactions.
Faced with this international threat, Belgian law enforcement agencies are strengthening their cooperation with their foreign partners. The fight against these networks requires a coordinated approach at the European level to dismantle command structures. The goal is to curb the expansion of these organizations, which now weigh heavily on public safety in Belgium.