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Belgium’s justice system under strain amid rising drug-related violence
Belgium’s justice system is facing growing pressure as courts and prisons struggle to cope with a sharp increase in drug-related crime and violence. Overcrowded detention facilities and overstretched judicial services are raising alarm among officials and experts, who warn that organized criminal networks are gaining ground.
Despite an escalation in violence linked to drug trafficking, the justice sector continues to suffer from long-standing structural weaknesses and limited financial resources. Legal proceedings are slowed by backlogs, while prison overcrowding has reached critical levels, undermining the effectiveness of criminal enforcement and contributing to a sense of impunity.
Justice Minister Annelies Verlinden has urged the government to allocate an additional €1 billion to strengthen the system. Her proposal would divide the funds between daily operations and long-term infrastructure improvements. Planned measures include harsher sentences for major traffickers, stricter controls within prisons, and financial contributions from affluent detainees to help cover incarceration costs.
Security concerns have also intensified public debate. Interior Minister Bernard Quintin recently suggested that military support could be considered in major cities if drug-related violence continues to escalate, a proposal that has sparked controversy across the political spectrum.
The strain on the prison system is particularly severe. Thousands of convicted individuals remain under electronic monitoring or on waiting lists due to the lack of available prison space. In several facilities, detainees are forced to sleep on the floor, highlighting the depth of the overcrowding crisis.
Beyond physical constraints, public trust in the justice system is declining. Surveys indicate that confidence has fallen to worrying levels, especially among working-class citizens. Members of the judiciary have also voiced concern, with some warning that Belgium risks drifting toward a “narco-state” if decisive reforms are not implemented.
