Two men suspected of playing central roles in a sprawling illegal waste dumping network in Belgium’s Northern Kempen region have been released from house arrest under strict judicial conditions, following a months-long investigation that has shone a harsh spotlight on environmental crime in the area. The case, which has gripped both local communities and authorities, centers on allegations that a group of farmers and contractors—linked by business and, allegedly, by illicit dealings—dumped construction debris, contaminated salt, chemical waste, and possibly even drug lab byproducts on rural properties for profit.
According to reporting from Gazet van Antwerpen, the two men—Glenn D. and Geert H.—were initially detained as part of a wider probe into the activities of a network allegedly organized around manure trader Peet W. from Baarle. Investigators believe that, for a fee, the group collected and buried hazardous materials at multiple sites, bypassing legal waste disposal channels and raising serious concerns about soil and groundwater contamination.
The investigation gained momentum in November 2025, when the Civil Protection and the federal judicial police carried out targeted excavations at Glenn D.’s companies in Merksplas and Weelde (Ravels). The results were damning: authorities uncovered large quantities of illegally dumped construction rubble and other waste materials at both locations. The discoveries not only confirmed suspicions but also underscored the scale and brazenness of the operation.
Meanwhile, a parallel search at Geert H.’s contracting company in Poppel revealed additional dumping sites containing industrial salt, construction debris, and chemical waste. The gravity of the situation became even clearer when excavations had to be put on hold after investigators encountered barrels emitting strong, pungent chemical fumes. The presence of these fumes, according to VRT NWS, raised the possibility that some of the waste originated from illegal drug laboratories—a chilling detail that has heightened public anxiety about the environmental and health risks posed by such criminal activity.
As the investigation unfolded, both Glenn D. and Geert H. found themselves under house arrest, each fitted with an electronic ankle bracelet to ensure their compliance with judicial orders. The restrictions were not lifted lightly: Glenn D.’s period of house arrest was extended twice as authorities continued their inquiries, and both men remained under close scrutiny for weeks.
On January 2, 2026, the chamber of indictment in Turnhout made the decision to release the two suspects under conditions. Their release, while a significant development in the case, comes with a set of non-negotiable requirements. Chief among these is a contact ban: neither man is permitted to communicate with other suspects involved in the dossier. This measure is intended to prevent collusion or interference with the ongoing investigation.
Steven Van De Kerkhof, attorney for Glenn D., acknowledged the toll the investigation and its attendant publicity have taken on his client. "The period for his ankle bracelet is two times extended," Van De Kerkhof told Gazet van Antwerpen. "On Friday, the chamber decided that my client is free under conditions. These are the classic conditions, including a contact ban with other suspects in the case. The wearing of an ankle bracelet, together with the investigations and the reports in the media, has weighed on my client. I assume that the focus of the investigators is now elsewhere."
For Geert H., the experience was similarly taxing. Like Glenn D., he spent weeks under house arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet before being granted conditional release. Both men now await the next steps in the legal process, their freedom circumscribed by the court’s stipulations.
The broader investigation, according to VRT NWS, remains very much active. Authorities are continuing to probe the extent of the illegal dumping network, which reportedly involves a number of other farmers and contractors in the region. The waste in question is not limited to relatively benign construction debris; the inclusion of contaminated salt and chemical waste, potentially from drug labs, raises the stakes considerably. Such substances can have long-lasting and devastating effects on local ecosystems, water supplies, and public health.
The discovery of buried barrels emitting toxic fumes at Geert H.’s property was particularly alarming for investigators. The need to halt excavations due to the release of dangerous chemicals underscored the real and present danger posed by improper disposal of industrial and chemical waste. In rural areas like the Northern Kempen, where agriculture and livestock farming are central to both the economy and the community’s way of life, the threat of contamination looms large.
For local residents, the revelations have been a rude awakening. Many had long suspected that illegal dumping was taking place in the area, but the scale and sophistication of the alleged operation have shocked even seasoned observers. While the full environmental impact remains to be seen, the case has already prompted calls for tighter regulation and more robust enforcement of waste disposal laws.
Legal experts note that the release of Glenn D. and Geert H. under conditions is not unusual in cases of this nature, especially when suspects have cooperated with authorities and there is no immediate risk of flight or tampering with evidence. However, the decision also reflects the complexity of prosecuting environmental crime, where investigations can drag on for months or even years as authorities work to trace the origins of waste, establish chains of responsibility, and assess the full extent of the damage.
As the investigation continues, attention is turning to the role of manure trader Peet W., allegedly at the center of the network. While no formal charges have been announced against him at this stage, authorities are reportedly pursuing multiple leads and examining financial records, transport logs, and other evidence that could tie the various suspects together.
The case has also sparked a broader debate about the adequacy of current waste management systems in Belgium and the incentives—financial and otherwise—that drive individuals and companies to cut corners. With the costs of legal disposal rising and oversight often patchy in rural areas, the temptation to engage in illegal dumping remains strong for some. For now, the eyes of the Northern Kempen—and indeed much of Belgium—are fixed on the unfolding investigation, as communities await answers and, ultimately, accountability.
As the legal process advances and authorities dig deeper into the region’s shadowy waste trade, the hope is that lessons learned from this case will lead to stronger protections for both people and the land they call home.