Kortrijk, Belgium: Europe and the Arabs
Belgian security authorities have made new arrests as part of an investigation into drugging customers in the nightlife district of Kortrijk. According to the website of the Belgian daily newspaper Nieuwsblad, the arrests were confirmed by the city's public prosecutor's office. House searches are currently underway over several days. According to Het Laatste Nieuws, eight people were arrested, including two café owners. Earlier, the newspaper reported, "A drug victim testified during the investigation, saying: 'I was fined for being drunk in a public place while under the influence of drugs and raped.'"
Since May 2023, more than 20 people have filed complaints about possible drugging crimes in Kortrijk's nightlife district. Drugs, medications, or alcohol are secretly added to a person's drink, usually with the intent to assault or rob the victim.
In investigating these complaints, police and the judiciary uncovered a network, according to Het Laatste Nieuws. Eight people were arrested during house searches. The suspects are said to be from the hospitality and nightlife sectors in Kortrijk, including café owners. The public prosecutor's office has not yet been able to confirm this information, but will announce it later. House searches are currently underway over several days. "This is ongoing, and I cannot say more about it at the moment," said Tom Janssens, a spokesman for the public prosecutor's office.
During the investigation, ketamine was found in the drinks of several of the alleged victims. It is believed that at least some of the suspects added the drug to the drinks to sedate the young women and then rape them. For example, Sylvie (not her real name) testified in the newspaper Last News about a night out she spent. "I ordered a drink and shortly afterward, the lights went out. According to my friends, I became aggressive and at one point stormed out of the bar. Afterwards, I lost consciousness completely." Several suspects have already been arrested in the investigations in recent months.