A 20-year-old municipal council member in Ganshoren, identified as M., was detained and subsequently released under strict conditions following a federal police raid on Tuesday, August 18, involving a 100-kilogram shipment of cannabis. According to the Parket van Brussel, the local politician remains a formal suspect in the drug importation and criminal organization case, alongside four other individuals who have been placed under an arrest warrant.
Police Raid and the Discovery of 100 Kilos of Cannabis
The operation unfolded around 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, August 18, when the federal gerechtelijke politie (FGP) of Brussel raided a garage located on Negen Provincieslaan. According to Het Nieuwsblad, customs officials at the airport in Zaventem detected suspicious activity and alerted law enforcement, allowing officers to track the delivery truck directly to the site.
Inside the garage at the time of the raid were M., a neighbor, and a third individual, who were actively stocking cardboard boxes. M. stated that he was simply helping his neighbor move boxes as a friendly favor and claimed he had no knowledge of the contents. Subsequent investigation revealed the shipment contained 100 kilograms of cannabis.
Following the discovery, officers reportedly held M. at gunpoint before placing him in handcuffs. According to M., an officer told him during the arrest that he was in serious trouble and would likely spend the night in the prison of Sint-Gillis or Haren. Police subsequently conducted a search of his home before transferring him to a police station to spend the night in a cell.
Legal Status and Municipal Position
On Wednesday, a prosecutor’s magistrate interrogated M. before releasing him under specific conditions. In an interview with La Capitale, M. maintained that his release proved he had nothing to do with the affair and that his name was cleared. However, the Parket van Brussel issued a public clarification to counter press reports regarding the Ganshoren council member.
“Due to various articles in the press about a municipal council member in Ganshoren, the parquet wishes to state that the man is suspected of importing drugs and membership in a criminal organization,” the Brussels prosecutor’s office announced. Officials confirmed he remains under strict conditions while four other suspects were placed under arrest warrants.
Politically, M. was elected in 2024 on the PS+Citoyens list, which forms part of the ruling majority in Ganshoren. In May, he briefly served as the council president, stepping in as a temporary replacement for Erik Van Den Berghe. Neither M. nor other members of the local PS party were immediately reachable for comment by BRUZZ.
Did You Know? M. briefly served as the president of the Ganshoren municipal council in May, stepping in to replace Erik Van Den Berghe.
Expert Perspective and Potential Legal Implications
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is the municipal council member involved in the case?
The individual is a 20-year-old politician identified in reports as M., who was elected in 2024 on the PS+Citoyens list in Ganshoren and briefly served as municipal council president in May.
What were the exact quantities and substances seized by police?
Law enforcement seized 100 kilograms of cannabis from a garage located on Negen Provincieslaan following a tip from customs officials at Zaventem airport.
Is M. still considered a suspect by authorities?
Yes. Although M. was released under strict conditions following his interrogation by a magistrate, the Parket van Brussel confirmed that he remains a suspect for alleged drug importation and membership in a criminal organization.
How might these ongoing legal proceedings impact the political majority in Ganshoren?