Is Belgium becoming Europe’s first narco state? In this episode, we explore how Belgium is now facing an unprecedented crime crisis.
From the port of Antwerp to the corridors of Belgium’s government, the tentacles of drug cartels are spreading fast, raising questions about corruption, security.
Joined by Flemish journalist Carl Deconninck from Brussels Signal, Justin and Alex, we break down the revelations from Belgian magistrates, warning that the state itself is being undermined by drug trafficking. Judges and customs officers have allegedly been bribed or blackmailed, while ministers fear of being kidnapped. Antwerp, as Europe’s second-largest port, has become a major gateway for illicit drugs, especially cocaine smuggled from South America.
Billions of euros flow through this parallel underground economy fueling violence, corruption, and power struggles that the Belgian government appears unable to contain.
With rising shootings, gang wars, and foreign criminal syndicates gaining influence, is the European Union’s open-border system making matters worse?
Are Belgium and the EU institutions too weak to confront the spread of illicit drugs and organised crime?
The discussion also looks beyond Belgium, comparing today’s crisis to Italy’s mafia wars and questioning whether the West’s leniency toward drug use has enabled this explosion in underground power.
We contrast Europe’s soft approach with the harsher tactics seen in Asia and the Middle East and debate whether stricter laws, militarised enforcement, or even drug legalisation could stop the bleeding.
