Belgian and French police mounted a large-scale border security operation between 19.00 and 01.00 on the night of 21–22 November, stopping 734 travellers along key crossings from De Panne to Doornik. The joint action, co-ordinated from the cross-border command centre in Doornik, targeted human smuggling rings, drug couriers and roaming theft gangs.
Six judicial cases were opened, one person was detained for questioning and two others held for disturbing public order. Officers issued 67 traffic fines, revoked 19 driving licences on the spot and seized four uninsured vehicles. Small quantities of cannabis were confiscated, underscoring the operation’s dual focus on narcotics and road-safety offences.
![Overnight Border Blitz Sees 734 People Checked on Belgian-French Frontier]()
The federal police stressed that such high-visibility sweeps aim to send “a strong message that borders cannot serve as safe havens for criminal activity.” For global-mobility managers the message is equally clear: ad-hoc checks are increasing, so cross-border commuters must carry valid passports or Belgian residence permits even when travelling inside the Schengen zone.
The operation also foreshadows stricter enforcement as the EU rolls out its Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS travel authorisations in 2025-26. Companies with shuttle vans or rotational staff crossing into France should expect more frequent inspections and potential delays, particularly at night.
Six judicial cases were opened, one person was detained for questioning and two others held for disturbing public order. Officers issued 67 traffic fines, revoked 19 driving licences on the spot and seized four uninsured vehicles. Small quantities of cannabis were confiscated, underscoring the operation’s dual focus on narcotics and road-safety offences.
The federal police stressed that such high-visibility sweeps aim to send “a strong message that borders cannot serve as safe havens for criminal activity.” For global-mobility managers the message is equally clear: ad-hoc checks are increasing, so cross-border commuters must carry valid passports or Belgian residence permits even when travelling inside the Schengen zone.
The operation also foreshadows stricter enforcement as the EU rolls out its Entry/Exit System (EES) and ETIAS travel authorisations in 2025-26. Companies with shuttle vans or rotational staff crossing into France should expect more frequent inspections and potential delays, particularly at night.
