Analysis of airline passenger data resulted in 166 arrests in 2024
Analysis of airline passenger data led to 166 arrests last year in connection with organised crime, human trafficking and drugs, among other things. This was reported by the National Crisis Centre in a press release on Thursday.
In 2024, the Belgian Passenger Information Unit (BelPIU) analysed a record 36.283 million travel movements on 251,052 flights. This record number is due to the cooperation with 89 commercial airlines.
The checks resulted in a total of 166 arrests: 50 for drug offences, 50 for trafficking in human beings (27 in Belgium and 23 abroad), 14 for organised crime, 13 for homicide, 12 for parental kidnapping, 10 for terrorism, 10 for theft by violence, 4 for trafficking in human beings and 3 for financial fraud.
Cigarettes, drugs and jewelry
In addition to the arrests, 7,752 cartons of cigarettes and 563.48 kilograms of drugs were seized thanks to the analysis of passenger data. In addition, 73.17 kilograms of water pipe tobacco and 696 counterfeit coins were seized, as well as diamonds and jewellery worth 645,445.77 euros.
"These results show that the analysis of passenger data has become an indispensable tool in the fight against criminal networks," said Bernard Quintin, Federal minister of Security and Home Affairs. "In this way, we are preventing the entry into our country of illegal substances and people who pose a threat to our society".
"These results show that the analysis of passenger data has become an indispensable tool in the fight against criminal networks"
BelPIU is part of the National Crisis Centre's National Travel Targeting Centre (NTTC). The NTTC collects and analyses data on passengers arriving, departing or passing through Belgium in the fight against organised crime and terrorism.
PHOTO © BELGA PHOTO DIRK WAEM
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