Brussels Bicycle Patrol Seizes Weapons, Cocaine and Vapes

A bicycle patrol unit of the Brussels-West police zone uncovered a significant cache of illegal items during a house search on Tuesday, including two loaded handguns, cocaine packaged for sale, and 2,000 banned disposable e-cigarettes. The operation, announced Thursday by the police zone, resulted in one suspect being placed at the disposal of the Brussels public prosecutor’s office.

How the Operation Unfolded

The operation began when officers on bicycle patrol noticed a suspicious exchange between two people in the Brussels-West area. According to the police statement, as quoted by BRUZZ, “On Tuesday, around 15:37, the attention of a bicycle patrol of our zone was drawn by an exchange between two people. They quickly left the place when they saw the police inspectors.”

The officers decided to stop and check the two individuals, and subsequently conducted a house search at the home of one of them. The searched premises consisted of both a residence and a commercial business, which was sealed by order of the public prosecutor’s office.

What Police Found

During the search, police discovered a substantial haul of illegal and dangerous goods. The items seized included two loaded handguns and a box of ammunition, a machete and an axe, 2,000 banned disposable e-cigarettes of the “Puff” type, a box of aphrodisiac, €3,630 in cash, and 2.7 grams of cocaine packaged in small bags ready for sale.

After questioning, one suspect was placed at the disposal of the public prosecutor’s office and transferred to the Brussels courthouse on 12 August, as VRT NWS reported.

Bicycle Patrols: An Expanding Role in Urban Policing

The operation highlights the growing importance of bicycle patrol units in Brussels. All six Brussels police zones now have bicycle brigades, with the last one established in February 2023. As BRUZZ reported, these patrols are designed to access areas less reachable by traditional police patrols and to be more approachable to the public. The Brussels-Hoofdstad/Elsene bicycle brigade is the largest in the capital with 41 officers.

Bicycle patrols have proven particularly effective in detecting drug deals and other criminal activity in public spaces, as this operation demonstrates. The ability of the patrol to observe the suspicious exchange and respond quickly proved crucial in uncovering the significant cache of illegal items.

The Persistent Illegal Vape Trade

The seizure of 2,000 banned “Puff” disposable e-cigarettes underscores the ongoing black market for these products despite Belgium’s pioneering ban. Belgium became the first EU country to ban the sale of disposable e-cigarettes effective 1 January 2025, as VRT NWS reported. The ban, introduced by Federal Health Minister Frank Vandenbroucke, was motivated by health concerns for youth and environmental concerns about plastic waste and non-rechargeable batteries.

The large quantity seized suggests organized distribution rather than individual use, indicating a thriving illegal market for these products nearly two years after the ban took effect.

The discovery of cocaine packaged for sale, along with weapons and cash, is consistent with the broader pattern of drug-related crime in the Brussels-West area, particularly in Sint-Jans-Molenbeek. The municipality has experienced significant drug gang violence in recent years, with more than 22 shooting incidents in the Brussels-Capital Region during summer 2025 alone.

In July 2026, Molenbeek introduced a ban on gatherings in streets with high levels of shooting violence, and a café in the area was targeted by arson after previously being shot at. The Brussels public prosecutor has been under threat level 4 due to threats from the drug milieu, as VRT NWS reported.

The fact that the searched premises consisted of both a residence and a commercial business, with the business being sealed, suggests that legitimate-looking establishments may be used as fronts for illegal activities. This aligns with warnings from Belgium’s drugs commissioner Ine Van Wymersch, who has said that short-term rentals are being used by criminal gangs to store drugs, cash, and weapons.

What’s Next

The swift action by police—detention, house search, questioning, and transfer to the courthouse within two days—demonstrates the efficiency of the Belgian criminal justice process in flagrante delicto cases. The suspect now faces potential charges related to weapons possession, drug trafficking, and violation of the e-cigarette ban.

As Brussels continues to grapple with drug-related crime, this operation serves as a reminder of the multifaceted nature of urban policing challenges—from street-level drug dealing to the illegal vape trade—and the importance of adaptable patrol strategies in addressing them.