On Tuesday morning, the federal police have been retrieving car wrecks from the River Meuse between Andenne and Namur.
The task was carried out in cooperation with local police zones and the Walloon Public Service (SPW). The retrievals are driven by both legal and environmental objectives.
The aim is to link the vehicles to ongoing investigations and to clear the passage for boats on the Meuse, which is hindered by these cars.
Major clean-up operation on the Meuse organised by the Federal Navigation Police, the Arches police zone and the Wallonia Public Service Mobility and Infrastructures, in Andenne, on Tuesday 06 May 2025. Credit: Belga / Asselberghs
Divers are conducting the searches, after which a crane removes the car wrecks from the water. The first attempt near the Andenne-Seilles lock was obstructed by rocks, but a vehicle was successfully lifted out of the water in Sclayn around 11 a.m.
Prior to the operation, the SPW surveyed the Meuse to identify the locations of large objects. The search is set to continue all day, reaching up to the ‘Pont des Grands Malades’ near Namur’s city centre.
Major clean-up operation on the Meuse organised by the Federal Navigation Police, the Arches police zone and the Wallonia Public Service Mobility and Infrastructures, in Andenne, on Tuesday 06 May 2025. Credit: Belga / Asselberghs
"Every vehicle found will be checked against the police database," says Emmanuel Lispet of the federal maritime police. “Vehicles are often reported missing near the Meuse, due to theft, criminal activity, or insurance fraud.”
A similar operation was conducted last year near Sambreville, and next year, the efforts will move upstream towards Namur.
