Belgium Tackles Gangs Shipping Drugs to South America by Courier.

Belgium is facing a growing problem of criminal gangs using the country as a hub for exporting synthetic drugs to the US and Latin America. While the European Union has focused on stopping drugs from entering the bloc through Belgian ports, it has been less concerned about drugs leaving the country. However, rising drug-related violence has prompted Belgian authorities to address the global demand for synthetic drugs produced in Europe. Criminals are manufacturing these drugs in the EU and using regular postal services to export them worldwide. Belgium, along with the Netherlands, plays a significant role in the illegal drugs market due to its major port in Antwerp and high concentration of illicit production. The European Commission is working to enhance cooperation between national law enforcement agencies within the EU. Belgian authorities have set up a specialist project to tackle drug trafficking through postal services, leading to successful seizures of drugs. Synthetic drugs are being shipped globally, including to the US and Latin America, and are sometimes traded for cocaine to avoid cross-border money transfers. Logistics service providers are aware of the potential for organized crime to misuse their supply chains and are taking measures to mitigate the risk. Synthetic drugs, such as ecstasy, MDMA, amphetamines, and methamphetamine, have proliferated over the past decade, offering criminals easier access to chemicals, faster production times, and more geographical flexibility. The EU is addressing the production and export of synthetic drugs as part of its anti-drugs strategy, including strengthening law enforcement cooperation, improving global surveillance capacity, and engaging with China to tackle the trafficking [Extracted from the article]