Belgium's judicial system deployed a record number of undercover officers in investigations last year. These agents infiltrate the criminal environment, most often large drug and arms trafficking gangs, VRT NWS reported.
A total of 65 police officers went undercover in 2024. This is the highest figure in recent years, figures from the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office showed. There is no conclusive explanation as to why the number of undercover operations is higher than in previous years.
Some sources argued the figure may be higher due to the higher demand from foreign investigators, who sometimes need to use Belgian undercover agents. Another theory is that the success of the undercover team in solving cases is increasing demand. In major gang cases, observations or the installation of telephone taps are not enough to infiltrate the highest circles.
Fisherman and serial killer
Using undercover agents is strictly regulated and reserved for serious crimes. It is a last resort when all other investigative methods have already been tried. Each application for an agent to go undercover is reviewed by special committees within the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office and closely monitored there as well.
These agents mainly infiltrate large gang cases involving arms or drug trafficking, for example. Usually, the operations of undercover agents remain secret, even afterwards. Additionally, not all details are recorded, even in criminal investigations, to fully ensure the undercover agents' safety and anonymity.
One of the first long-term infiltrations was Operation Balatum, which took place in 1993 and 1994. An undercover agent infiltrated the fishing world in Zeebrugge, where fishermen were suspected of importing hashish from Spain and Morocco. Many people were caught red-handed and the case resulted in some 20 convictions.
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Several years later, as part of a shorter-term infiltration, a man in prison wanted to order a contract killing of his wife through a telephone call. He thought he was speaking to a serial killer but it ended up being an undercover agent.
Another example was the radicalised (neo-nazi) young man who wanted to commit an attack. An agent posed as a dealer from whom the man could buy weapons. The radicalised young man's case is being heard on Friday in Brussels.
