A laboratory for manufacturing illegal drugs was discovered in Holsbeek (Flemish Brabant) on Tuesday, Leuven Public Prosecutors announced on Thursday. Three suspects have been arrested.
This discovery follows an investigation by the Leuven Federal Judicial Police that began in January. The police had become aware of a possible synthetic drug laboratory in Holsbeek. The owners of the premises made the building available to the organisation that operated the laboratory.
On 11 July, the Judicial Police – accompanied by special forces from the Federal Police, canine units and local police – raided two addresses in Pellenberg and Nieuwrode. Three suspects were arrested at the scene and a large-scale MDMA manufacturing facility was discovered.
Authorities examined the lab and determined that it posed no danger to local residents. "The site is under permanent police surveillance and the Civil Protection has been called in to dismantle the laboratory," the Public Prosecutor's Office said. The complete dismantling of the facilities is expected to take two days.
Two suspects have been placed under arrest and a third has been conditionally released.
