Belgian customs will work together with the country’s defence sector to monitor private aircraft that may be used for criminal activities. This was announced at a joint press conference at Charleroi Airport on Monday.
While Belgium has six commercial airports, it also hosts around 150 smaller airfields and heliports, and recorded more than 27,000 private flights in 2023. But according to Kristian Vanderwaeren, director general of Belgian Customs, they are also becoming increasingly attractive for traffickers to transport drugs or large sums of cash.
Despite the growing concerns, only about 30 offences related to private flights were recorded by Belgian customs in 2024. That is because private flights offer several advantages that help criminals evade detection, Vanderwaeren said on Monday.
For example, their routes may not be filed with authorities or can be changed at short notice, and the time between landing and take-off can be very short. Additionally, private jets can easily switch off their transponders—devices that allow air traffic control to track an aircraft’s position—making them harder to detect on radar.
Military-grade radars
In response, a customs officer will be stationed at the National Airspace Security Centre, where they will have access to Belgian Defence’s radar systems. This will let them detect and track private aircraft, even when transponders are disabled.
“Improved intelligence will lead us to airfields we previously lacked the resources to inspect,” Vanderwaeren said.
“Criminals are creative and adapt quickly,” added Finance minister Jan Jambon. “The fight is difficult, but there is no alternative. We must continually work to strengthen our enforcement capabilities.”
