this post was submitted on 09 Mar 2026
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President of Antwerp court says international drug crime is posing danger to social stability in Belgium

International drug crime poses a danger to social stability in Belgium, a senior judge has said, after his colleague warned the country was evolving into “a narco-state” where mafia groups were forming “a parallel force” in society.

Bart Willocx, the president of the Antwerp court of appeal, said Belgium was vulnerable to criminality from drug smuggling through the city’s vast port, one of the main entry points into Europe for cocaine smugglers.

“The amount of money that is involved – to influence people, to corrupt people and to bribe – it is so big that it is really a danger for the stability of our society,” he told the Guardian in an interview at his court.

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[–] whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works 15 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

Step 1: legalize

Step 2: nationalize

Step 3: profit

Step 4: With the profit help people to go out of their addiction

[–] Diplomjodler3@lemmy.world 4 points 9 hours ago (2 children)

But then all the plebes could have it too! Can't have that now, can we?

[–] phoenixz@lemmy.ca 1 points 5 hours ago

Yep, better have a narco state, then

[–] whyNotSquirrel@sh.itjust.works 3 points 9 hours ago

fair. Also that would destroy all those poor cops jobs, and empty prisons. What a selfish idea did I have here!

[–] vdbm@lemmy.world 4 points 8 hours ago* (last edited 8 hours ago) (1 children)

It is telling that the magistrates went to a UK newspaper and that it was then covered in the Belgian press: https://www.demorgen.be/snelnieuws/van-de-ene-dag-op-de-andere-moet-je-je-huis-verlaten-hoe-de-drugsoorlog-rechters-in-belgie-raakt~b08f2d2b/

Could it be that they decided to escalate beyond Belgium because they didn't reach the necessary impact in Belgium itself?

[–] redsand@infosec.pub 2 points 7 hours ago

Or they're just dumb puppets on the international stage. Smells fishy.