In Prague, a 38-year-old man, under the influence of drugs, threw a package containing 120,000 crowns to a passerby. The police returned the money to its owner after verifying its legal origin.
Belgium is facing an organized threat from drug trafficking, which is undermining its institutions. An Antwerp judge states that the country meets the conditions of a narco-state due to its illegal economy, corruption, and violence.
A series of audacious museum thefts in Europe, including the Louvre heist, has shown that stolen items are quickly melted down or sold on the black market. Experts note that a lack of investment in security turns even the most famous collections into easy prey, and the chances of recovering stolen goods intact are almost zero.
The Belgian Federal Prosecutor's Office has dismantled a terrorist group that was planning an assassination attempt on Prime Minister Bart De Wever. Investigators discovered an improvised explosive device that the suspects planned to attach to a drone.
International visitors arrive at the DreamVille campsite at Tomorrowland festival after a fire destroyed the main stage. Organizers confirm the opening of the campsite and welcoming guests, while seeking a solution for the festival weekend.
The Port of Rotterdam is reserving berths for vessels with military cargo and planning cargo diversions in case of conflict. This is being done in coordination with Antwerp and at NATO's request.
Raja Nainggollan was arrested as part of an investigation into drug smuggling through the port of Antwerp. The footballer is in a temporary holding cell, and his club, Lokeren, confirmed that he was absent from training.
On New Year's Eve, riots broke out in Brussels, during which 60 cars were set on fire and rescuers were attacked. Police detained 159 people and recorded more than 1,700 incidents across the city.
Belgian authorities have charged three natives of Chechnya with preparing a terrorist attack. The suspects are allegedly affiliated with the Afghan branch of the Islamic State and were detained during a large-scale anti-terrorist operation.
Belgian police detained 7 people suspected of planning a terrorist attack. They conducted 14 searches in different cities of the country, and the suspects are accused of terrorism and its financing.
Europol reports a record increase in cocaine smuggling to Europe, with almost 70% of it being transported through the ports of Antwerp and Rotterdam.
Over the past five years, the amount of cocaine seized in the port of Hamburg has tripled, making it the third most important port for drug cartels in Europe after Antwerp and Rotterdam.
Iran has used European ports in Belgium, Spain, and Italy to smuggle weapons, including missiles and bombs, to Hezbollah in Lebanon via Syria to avoid Israeli air strikes on Iranian weapons shipments.
Farmers in Belgium and the Netherlands are blocking border crossings to protest taxes, rising costs, cheap imports, and bureaucracy that are negatively impacting their industry.
