The police carried out raids against three dental offices and two homes in Brussels on Thursday as part of an investigation into serious fraud and economic crimes.
The raids are related to an investigation into alleged human trafficking, economic exploitation, undeclared work, workplace harassment, swindling, forgery, and money laundering, the auditor’s office announced.
Five people were detained for questioning and one person has been arrested for residing in the country illegally, the public prosecutor’s office added.
The operation was carried out by the Brussels Federal Judicial Police, in close collaboration with the Social Law Inspectorate (CLS), the social inspection services of the National Institute for Health and Disability Insurance (INAMI), the National Social Security Office (ONSS) and the Federal Agency for Nuclear Control (AFCN).
An investigating judge and a magistrate from the labour prosecutor's office were present at the scene. During the searches, documents, computer and audio-visual equipment, two motorbikes, a vehicle and more than €350,000 in cash were seized.
In addition, one of the dental surgeries, which was still under construction, has been sealed off due to alleged violations of various laws, including the use of non-compliant scaffolding and undeclared work.
“Assuming the facts are established, the loss to social security, due to services not provided, overbilled or provided in a manner not compliant with the legislation, is estimated at more than €600,000,” said the auditor's office.
The raids come as Belgian police intensify their efforts against organised human trafficking gangs.
On Thursday, police in Antwerp also arrested eight people as part of an investigation into an Afghan criminal organisation suspected of human trafficking. In December 2024, another three Afghan nationals were convicted for their involvement in a major people-smuggling ring.
