Belgium: A Moroccan immigrant was arrested with a hidden war weapon among baby clothes

The Belgian Police arrested a 23-year-old Moroccan immigrant who was carrying a loaded assault rifle of the Kalashnikov type, hidden inside a bag among baby and children's clothes.

The foreigner had arrived by train from France and, according to available information, holds a Spanish residence permit.

The arrest took place last Thursday, around 9:30, after Customs officials noticed that the suspect appeared visibly nervous and was apparently trying to avoid a check. The Moroccan tried to blend in with Eurostar passengers but was pulled aside for a more thorough inspection.

During the procedure, the agents found the loaded war weapon hidden beneath children's clothing. A joint patrol made up of police and military intervened immediately and proceeded to detain him.

After the arrest, the investigating judge ordered preventive detention and initially charged him with belonging to a criminal organization and illegal possession of a war weapon. The detainee is scheduled to appear before the council chamber on Wednesday, which will have to decide whether to extend his detention.

The investigation of the case

The investigation took a direction linked to organized crime after the Belgian Federal Police initially ruled out the existence of sufficient elements to consider the detainee an Islamic terrorist.

Among the hypotheses being considered by investigators is the possibility that the Kalashnikov is related to the dispute between clans of the so-called Mocromafia and Balkan criminal organizations for control of the drug market in Brussels.

The arrest also occurs in a context of growing violence linked to drug trafficking in the Belgian capital. During 2026, Brussels recorded an average of nearly ten shootings per month, according to data from the Belgian Prosecutor's Office. The confrontations have so far resulted in at least two deaths and numerous injuries.

The situation has led to increased security through joint patrols of police and military at various points in the city, including the Brussels-Midi station itself, where the suspect was intercepted.

Moroccan criminal organizations

The so-called Mocromafia is made up of different criminal clans whose members predominantly have Moroccan roots.

It is not a single hierarchical organization, but rather a constellation of groups that have built drug distribution networks in Belgium and the Netherlands over the years and have acquired a significant position in the European hashish trafficking through their connections with Morocco.

In turn, the port of Antwerp constitutes a strategic point for international drug trafficking, while Balkan-origin organizations have a strong presence in the introduction of cocaine through major European ports.

The clans linked to the Mocromafia have extensive distribution and sales networks, in a scenario of competition for control of the business.

Now, Belgian authorities are seeking to establish the origin of the Kalashnikov, determine where it was headed, and clarify which organization the detainee was allegedly working for.