As part of a large-scale investigation into human trafficking and sexual exploitation, dozens of arrests were made at various brothels in the Brussels Northern Quarter, which were also shut off by police.
On Wednesday 27 September 2023, the Federal Judicial Police of Brussels, with the support of other units of the Federal (Judicial) Police and the Brussels North Local Police, raided 56 addresses as part of an investigation into the prostitution milieu, according to the prosecutor's office.
The properties were spread across the judicial districts of Brussels, Antwerp, East Flanders and Liège, and included both prostitution "bars" in the Brussels North Quarter and the residential addresses of the suspects.
The focus of the investigation was three young men, suspected of placing young girls in the windows of prostitution bars around the Brussels North railway station. These girls mostly found themselves in precarious situations and were trafficked into the country illegally, mainly through France or Italy.
"In addition, the brothel tenants are suspected of having amassed an abnormal economic advantage by subletting showcases at excessive rents to girls forced into prostitution," the prosecutor's office noted.
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As a result of Wednesday's police action, 30 brothels in the Brussels Northern Quarter were judicially sealed for investigation, while 25 people were judicially arrested. Another 23 people were administratively deprived of their freedom while their data was collected and were later released.
After questioning, the investigating judge will decide which of them will be taken to court or not. At two addresses, €15,000 and €6,500 were also found by the police.
