Seven Men Arrested in Willebroek Drug Bust: Couriers Supplied from Garage Box
Belgian police have arrested seven men suspected of operating a drug trafficking network in the Willebroek region, using a garage box as a central supply point for couriers. The arrests followed simultaneous house searches across three municipalities on Tuesday, June 2, 2026, conducted by the local detective unit of Police Zone Rivierenland under the authority of the investigating judge in Mechelen.
According to VRT NWS, the investigation had been underway for several months, targeting a criminal organization primarily dealing in cocaine and cannabis. Police mapped the group’s structure and identified key individuals before executing seven coordinated raids in Willebroek, Boom, and Puurs-Sint-Amands.
The Garage Box Operation
A central finding of the investigation was that drug couriers were being supplied and directed from a garage box in Willebroek, which served as the operational hub for the organization. “The association was mainly active on the territory of Willebroek,” police spokesperson Dirk Van de Sande told HLN. “It also turned out that the couriers of the association were being supplied and directed from a garage box in Willebroek.”
This localized distribution model is common in the region, where mid-level criminal organizations use inconspicuous locations such as garages, warehouses, and residential properties to supply street-level couriers.
Arrests and Seized Items
During the raids, six suspects were arrested on site. Two additional suspects were picked up from the prisons of Dendermonde and Hoogstraten, where they were already incarcerated. In total, eight men aged 18 to 32 were taken into custody. Seven of them were formally detained by the investigating judge and placed in prisons in Mechelen, Antwerp, Leuven, and Dendermonde. One suspect was released in this specific case but returned to prison where he was already serving time.
Police seized a substantial quantity of drugs and other items during the searches, as detailed by Radio Reflex:
- Cocaine: 1,249.9 grams (~1.25 kg)
- Cannabis: 2,609.7 grams (~2.6 kg)
- XTC: 136.95 grams (~137 g)
- Cash: €16,115
- Weapons: One alarm pistol, one taser, pepper spray, two daggers, one bulletproof vest
- Other: 14 mobile phones, one vehicle, one electric scooter, three scales
Broader Context: Drug Crime in the Rivierenland Region
Willebroek, located in the province of Antwerp, has been a focal point for drug-related crime due to its proximity to the Port of Antwerp — one of Europe’s largest entry points for cocaine. The region has seen intensified police action in recent years.
In December 2025, 15 people were convicted for cocaine trafficking from a warehouse in Willebroek, receiving sentences of up to seven years and fines of up to €400,000, as VRT NWS reported. That case involved three large “uithalingen” (extractions) from shipping containers arriving at the Port of Antwerp between June and October 2020.
Police Zone Rivierenland has been steadily intensifying its fight against drug crime. The WijkDrugsTeam (WDT), established in 2021, has grown from six to 14 staff members. In 2025 alone, the police zone recorded 110 arrests linked to drug trafficking and 49 arrests for drug possession.
Analysis and Implications
This bust represents a significant disruption to mid-level drug distribution in the Willebroek region. The use of a garage box as a central supply point indicates a structured operation with a clear division of roles. The arrests of seven men aged 18 to 32 suggest the organization may have recruited younger individuals as couriers.
The operation is part of a sustained crackdown on drug trafficking in the Rivierenland police zone, which covers the municipalities of Willebroek, Boom, Rumst, Puurs-Sint-Amands, and Bornem. Mayor Eddy Bevers of Willebroek has emphasized a combined approach of repression, prevention, and aftercare.
What’s Next
The seven detained suspects remain in custody pending further investigation. It remains to be seen whether the investigation will lead to higher-level organizers beyond those already arrested, and what connection, if any, this group has to the larger cocaine trafficking network convicted in December 2025. The investigation is ongoing.