Brussels — A recent study by scientists at the University of Antwerp has revealed that ketamine levels in Belgium’s sewage water have surged to seven to 11 times higher than a decade ago, prompting customs services to emphasize the need for “permanent vigilance” to curb the illegal trade of the drug.
The findings highlight ketamine’s increasing prevalence not only as a party drug but also in other contexts, including weekdays. The European Drug Report 2024 confirmed these results, identifying Antwerp and Rotterdam as the cities with the highest concentrations of ketamine residues.
Unlike other drugs that show significant spikes during holidays and festival seasons, ketamine consumption appears relatively stable throughout the year. A statement from Belgium’s Finance Ministry stressed that this trend demands consistent monitoring by customs services.
A Shifting Drug Landscape
Originally developed as an anaesthetic for medical and veterinary use, ketamine has become a popular illegal drug, known on the streets as ‘ket,’ ‘Special K,’ or ‘Vitamin K.’
It is typically snorted for its sedative and hallucinogenic effects, which can include dream-like euphoria but also nausea, disorientation, and, at higher doses, severe oxygen deficiency.
Prolonged use can result in serious health issues, such as brain damage and “ketamine bladder syndrome,” which causes irreversible damage to the bladder and kidneys.
In recent years, the nature of ketamine distribution has evolved significantly. While it was once sourced from stolen veterinary medicines, the drug now predominantly enters the black market from the legal pharmaceutical supply chain, where it is then resold illegally.
Global Smuggling Networks
Belgium has also become a key hub for ketamine smuggling to countries where the street price is three times higher, including the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.
Smuggling primarily occurs through postal and courier shipments, with drugs concealed within various objects. The quantities intercepted have ranged from small packets of 100 grams to bulk shipments of up to 20 kilograms.
The number of ketamine seizures at Brussels Airport in Zaventem and Liège Airport has remained relatively stable over the past few years, with 55 incidents reported in 2022, 54 in 2023, and 56 in 2024.
However, the first two months of this year have already seen 11 interceptions totaling 56.8 kilograms—around a third of the total seized last year. In one instance, a passenger was caught attempting to board a flight to Germany with 16.4 kilograms of the drug.
International Cooperation to Combat Smuggling
To counter the growing ketamine trade, Belgian customs have intensified cooperation with international partners, particularly the United States.
This includes controlled deliveries to destination countries to facilitate the arrest of drug traffickers. Similar operations have also been conducted with authorities in Taiwan, Denmark, and Israel.
The International Narcotics Control Board has echoed Belgium’s concerns, noting an uptick in the non-medical use of ketamine across parts of Europe. The board’s latest report calls for enhanced international collaboration and closer monitoring to combat the illicit distribution of the drug.
At the EU level, discussions are underway to address the ketamine problem more effectively. Unlike many other substances, ketamine is only regulated as a narcotic in six EU Member States, including Belgium. In the Netherlands, it is regulated but does not fall under the Opium Act, complicating cross-border enforcement efforts.
Belgium’s Finance Ministry has warned that the steady rise in ketamine use and trafficking demands ongoing vigilance.
“Permanent vigilance is needed,” the ministry’s press release concluded, underlining the urgency of coordinated action to address the growing ketamine epidemic in Europe.
