In 2025, a joint cross-border police operation known as “Hazeldonk” resulted in 273 arrests and the seizure of over €1 million, among other outcomes.
Throughout the year, a total of five weeks of targeted checks were conducted as part of the campaign, involving some 8,400 officers from Belgium, France, and Luxembourg.
Authorities confiscated a range of illicit substances, including cocaine, cannabis, heroin, ketamine, amphetamine, MDMA, synthetic cannabinoids, and nitrous oxide. The operation also led to the seizure of €1,125,801 in cash and 129 vehicles. Alongside the arrests, 388 drivers were caught operating a vehicle under the influence of drugs.
The “Hazeldonk” framework, a cooperative effort between the three countries to combat international drug trafficking, has been in place since 2006.
Police reported observing several key trends during the latest operations: large sums of cash are being transported, often by couriers with atypical profiles such as families with children, elderly persons, or taxi drivers. There is also an increasing reliance on rail transport, while the methods for concealing and moving illicit goods are becoming more sophisticated.
