How Antwerp is overrun by young Amsterdam drug criminals
Crime journalists Paul Vugts and Wouter Laumans tell in this episode of the Taghi Podcast how ‘Amsterdam’ underworld violence is showing up more and more in Antwerp.
Wouter Laumans: “It is of course not a Belgian problem, and not a Dutch problem, it is a European problem. Whether the drugs are transported to Rotterdam, Antwerp, or Helsinki, a border doesn’t matter, they just drive over it. But it does matter for the fight against crime. You want who’s going to go after those guys when they cross the border?”
While the drug trade in Antwerp used to be run by the Dutch, a turning point can now be seen. “What investigative authorities see is that the small Belgian scramblers, who started as extractors of the containers, have been promoted. They paid for themselves in coke and started co-investing in parties in those transports.” The Belgians have the corrupt contacts, the Dutch – boys from Southeast – do the scavenging.
That lashing out is risky work, many boys end up in jail. “It is a kind of cannon fodder that is used by the underworld. And if it all goes wrong, figure it out.” The environment is unforgiving. “Make no mistake, if 600 kilos have to be removed from somewhere, and they come back with 300, then such an organization does not say: ‘Thank you, you managed to get another 300 too red.’ No. “It was 600, where’s the rest.” Those guys then have a huge debt all at once.”
The Taghi Podcast
Crime journalists Paul Vugts and Wouter Laumans talk about recent developments in the Marengo process and the Earthly affiliated processes. Listen to the previous episodes here.
To ask? Mail to [email protected]