Brussels Crime Paradox: Record Murders and Drug Seizures

Brussels has recorded all-time highs in attempted murders and drug seizures in 2025, even as overall registered crime fell to its lowest level since 2018, according to the latest annual crime statistics released by the Belgian federal police. The data paints a stark picture of a capital city where traditional property crime is declining while organized, drug-related violence is escalating dramatically.

Total registered crimes in the Brussels-Capital Region fell to 152,000 last year — the lowest figure in seven years. The decline was driven primarily by a sharp drop in thefts and burglaries, with home burglaries falling to 5,200 — the lowest this century — and bicycle thefts dropping to 3,700, their lowest since 2017, as VRT NWS reported.

Yet behind those encouraging figures lies a more troubling reality. Drug offenses surged 14 percent year-on-year to a record 12,437 cases, while attempted murders and homicides rose 23 percent to an all-time high of 310. Cocaine-related sales offenses alone reached 829 — another record — according to BRUZZ, which first reported the data.

A City Under Siege from Organized Crime

The record figures reflect a fundamental shift in the nature of criminal activity in Brussels. While opportunistic street crime is declining — likely due to improved security measures and changing consumer habits — organized criminal networks are becoming bolder and more violent.

Brussels recorded 96 shootings in 2025, resulting in eight fatalities, according to The Brussels Times. Most were linked to drug-related violence, as rival gangs battle for control of trafficking territories in working-class neighborhoods like Anderlecht’s Cureghem district.

Brussels Public Prosecutor Julien Moinil, who has become the face of the city’s crackdown on organized crime, described the situation bluntly. “These shootouts are linked to the presence of criminal groups in Brussels with ties to drug trafficking, which are waging a violent war,” he told France 24 in February 2025.

The ‘Maximalist’ Prosecutor

Moinil, appointed King’s Prosecutor in October 2024, has pursued an aggressive, uncompromising strategy against drug crime that has earned him the nickname “Batman of Brussels,” as BRUZZ profiled. His approach includes targeting drug users as well as dealers, pursuing the financial assets of criminals, and mobilizing large-scale police operations involving up to 800 officers.

His maximalist tactics have produced results — including 750 years of prison sentences in the landmark Sky ECC prosecution — but have also strained an already overburdened justice system. Prosecutor-General Frédéric Van Leeuw acknowledged the tension: “His maximalist approach demands a lot of capacity from the system. He bites down, but that’s what Brussels needs today.”

The 14 percent increase in drug offenses may partly reflect Moinil’s more aggressive policing rather than an actual increase in drug activity, the reporting notes. His strict drug policy “likely plays a role in the rising figures.”

Governance Challenges Hamper the Fight

Brussels’ unique governance structure complicates efforts to tackle organized crime. The city is divided into six separate police zones, making coordination difficult. The federal government, led by Prime Minister Bart De Wever since February 2025, has proposed merging the zones into one — but district mayors have resisted the plan.

Meanwhile, the Brussels-Capital Region has been without a stable government for more than 580 days, leaving a leadership vacuum on crime policy. Anderlecht Mayor Fabrice Cumps, whose municipality has been hardest hit by drug violence, described his role as “putting bandages on a leaking bottle.”

Residents of Cureghem, where 25,000 of Anderlecht’s 126,000 inhabitants live, have grown frustrated. In an open letter published in January 2026, the group Respect Cureghem declared: “Putting bandages on a leaking bottle will never solve the problem. The bottle needs to be repaired, not patched up.”

The ‘Dark Number’ Problem

Criminologists warn that official statistics may significantly understate the true scale of crime in Brussels. The so-called “dark number” — crimes that go unreported — is estimated at more than 50 percent by some experts, meaning the actual crime picture could be far worse than the data suggests.

What Lies Ahead

The mixed picture presents a public safety paradox: while overall crime statistics improve, the types of crime that most frighten the public — shootings, drug violence, and extremism — are increasing. Terrorism and extremism cases reached 109 in 2025, the highest since 2018.

Interior Minister Bernard Quintin has promised more police patrols in affected districts, declaring: “The streets belong to the people who live there — not to traffickers.” But with the justice system under strain and political tensions simmering over police reform, the question remains whether Brussels can match the scale of the challenge with the resources needed to meet it.

For now, the city’s residents — particularly in the most affected neighborhoods — continue to wait for the bottle to be repaired, not just patched up.