Police conduct spot checks on Brussels-North shops

Police have carried out a large-scale inspection operation targeting shops in the Brabant neighbourhood around Brussels-North station.

Authorities say a large number of businesses were inspected during the operation, which was led by the Brussels labour inspectorate and the Brussels public prosecutor’s office but also involved two sections of the federal police.

“The joint inspections allow the various services to carry out the necessary investigations within their remit,” said Brussels police spokeswoman Katlien Breugelmans.

“Our services carried out their own inspections and ensured the safe conduct of the joint inspection operation.”

The action follows the closure of seven businesses after two inspection operations carried out on 23 September and 4 October by the Brussels North police zone, in coordination with the Brussels public prosecutor’s office.

Although this most recent one is not ‘specifically linked’ to those inspections, it is part of "the targeted operations to inspect shops that are being carried out throughout our territory", Breugelmans said.

“This inspection operation isn’t directly linked to the fight against drug dealing in the North district,” said Breugelmans.

“We carry out regular inspections in collaboration with the labour auditor, the public prosecutor's office and other partners.”