Belgium deploys troops to Brussels transit hubs to curb drug-related crime

Belgium on Friday began deploying military personnel to train stations and metro hubs in Brussels as part of efforts to combat drug-related crime and insecurity.

Interior Minister Bernard Quintin said mixed patrols involving police, railway police and military personnel would be deployed.

"We are talking about mixed patrols, with police officers, railway police and military personnel. This represents 45 full-time equivalents, but in reality it involves more personnel," he told broadcaster RTL.

Quintin declined to disclose specific locations or schedules but said the patrols would be visible.

"It is not necessarily a good idea to indicate where police and military will be, or at what time, but they will be there and they will be visible," he said.

He described Brussels as facing the most acute challenges linked to drug trafficking and insecurity, adding that the deployment could be expanded to other major cities if needed.

Transport hubs were selected due to heavy passenger traffic and security risks, he said, calling them key entry points to the capital and the country.

"Unfortunately, these are hotspots of insecurity because they are also places with heavy traffic," Quintin said.

The move follows earlier plans to expand the military's role in public security. Defense Minister Theo Francken said earlier this week that troops could also be deployed to transport hubs and in operations targeting drug-related crime.