NO USE CHINA !!!

Lower thirds:

00:02 Report by Tessa Walter
00:29 Fabrice Cumps | Anderlecht mayor
01:41 Steven Debbaut | Criminologist

Script:

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00:00
A man was shot dead in the entrance hall of this residential block in Brussels’ Anderlecht district — one of more than 20 bullets fired there in early February. It's just one of many such attacks in a wave of drug-related violence Belgium has seen in recent months.
Fabrice Cumps has been mayor of Anderlecht for five years. He says the problem has reached a new level.

00:25
+++Fabrice Cumps, Mayor Anderlecht+++
Street dealing has become incredibly intense, and, above all, it has become much more visible than in the past. But there are also territorial struggles for control by gangs or mafias. So right now, there is really a phase of ultra-violence and shootings, which is very difficult.

((On vit une situation très difficile pour l'instant à Anderlecht parce qu'il y a à la fois le deal de rue qui a pris l'intensité incroyable et surtout a modifié ses habitudes. Et donc il y a beaucoup plus visible que par le passé. Mais par ailleurs, on a aussi des luttes de territoire pour le contrôle de territoire porté par des gangs ou par des mafias. Et donc, il y a pour l'instant une phase d'ultra violence.))

00:47
In 2024, Brussels recorded over 90 shootings — nine people were killed and 48 hurt — a sharp rise from the year before. In places like Anderlecht, residents are growing increasingly anxious.

01:04
+++Voxes+++
it is really horrible to live here. Very scared every time. (Male, eng)
For example, walking on the street in the evening is also dangerous. (women, eng)
It's an area that has long been forgotten by politicians, a neighbourhood that has really been left neglected. (woman, French)
((C'est un quartier qui a été longtemps oublié par les politiques publiques et c'est un quartier pour moi qui a été vraiment laissé à l'abandon.))
 
1:20
But where are the drugs fuelling this violence coming from? The trail leads to the port of Antwerp — one of Europe’s major cocaine gateways. In 2024, Belgian customs intercepted 44 tons of the drug here.

According to criminologist Steven Debbaut, that’s only the tip of the iceberg.
++++Steven Debbaut, Criminologist+++
In the last decade or so, ten years probably already the price of cocaine on the street market is about €50 for one gram. It has stayed the same. So this is one way of knowing that we're not really able to lower supply in a substantial way.
 
02:00
Belgian authorities have stepped up the fight against organized crime — but the gunfire continues. Experts say lasting change will only come about by addressing the root causes of the violence — and confronting the drug market that fuels it.
 
Ende: 2:20