Criminal gangs are reportedly utilising Airbnb-type short-term rentals as stash houses for drugs, money, weapons, and individuals, according to Ine Van Wymersch, Belgium's national drug commissioner. She stated that booming e-commerce is significantly aiding organised crime.
Van Wymersch told the Guardian that authorities lack a precise understanding of the problem's full extent, but criminals are capitalising on the flexibility offered by these booking platforms. She cited examples such as hiring an apartment for a few days to pick up cargo from a harbour, with options for free cancellation if plans change.
Earlier this month, police in central Brussels seized 3.3kg of cocaine and €4,845 (£4,140) in cash from an Airbnb-rented apartment, which was believed to be used for storing and packing drugs. In 2024, a drug trafficking operation between Belgium and the UK saw €21m worth of drugs confiscated from an Airbnb rental in Staden, West Flanders.
An Airbnb representative in Belgium declined to comment but referred to earlier remarks by Clément Eulry, Airbnb’s country manager for France and the Benelux. Eulry stated that such criminal bookings represent an extreme minority of the millions processed annually. He added that the company employs various measures, including artificial intelligence, to identify suspicious bookings and reports problematic renters to authorities.