The year 2025 was marked by several acts of violence linked to drug trafficking in the Belgian capital. Against this backdrop, the French-speaking Court of First Instance of Brussels held a press conference on Tuesday, January 27th, to present an overview of how the justice system is coping with the growing number of drug-related cases.
The figures show a sharp and worrying increase. In 2020, the court opened 598 cases classified as narcotics-related, leading to 557 judgments. By 2025, this number had risen to 1,015 cases. According to the court, the number of cases is expected to double again between 2025 and 2026, based on files already scheduled for investigation.
Paul Dhaeyer, president of the French-speaking Court of First Instance of Brussels, pointed to structural factors behind the surge. Underlining Brussels’ growing role in international drug trafficking routes, he noted
The port of Antwerp and Zaventem airport have become very important entry points for cocaine.
The rise in drug trafficking is also reflected in violent crime statistics. Homicide and attempted homicide cases have increased significantly in recent years.
Judicial authorities also highlighted a disturbing shift in the profiles of offenders. Reviewing several key judgments from 2025, magistrates observed that—increasingly—serious crimes are being committed by younger and younger individuals. According to Brussels court magistrate Denis Goeman
We often see very young people among those convicted.
