![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/78\/590x\/secondary\/belgium-cocaine-crack-abuse-4950248.jpg?r=1694240952464\")
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With an eye on its upcoming EU presidency, Belgium is taking decisive steps to combat the crisis.<\/p>\n
Prime Minister De Croo announced the establishment of a special police station within the existing train station, aimed at making interventions more efficient and effective in curbing criminal activity.<\/p>\n
Critics argue that the government’s response comes too late and question whether a cleanup operation will merely relocate urban problems to other neighbourhoods, potentially spreading the crisis to new areas.<\/p>\n
Don’t miss… <\/strong> We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info<\/p>\n The issues are not confined to Brussels Midi Station alone; another major train hub, Nord Station, in the capital also grapples with similar problems, further tarnishing Belgium’s image.<\/p>\n A significant contributor to the crisis is the rise of drug trafficking in the country, particularly through the northern port of Antwerp, which has emerged as a key gateway for Latin American cocaine cartels into Europe.<\/p>\n Customs officials report that cocaine seizures in Antwerp have more than doubled in the past five years, resulting in a surge of relatively inexpensive cocaine in Brussels, with crack cocaine becoming a significant security concern, particularly in the vicinity of the Brussels Midi Station.<\/p>\n
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