Best Drug Crime Lawyers in Hasselt

About Drug Crime Law in Hasselt, Belgium

Drug crime in Hasselt is governed by Belgian federal law, applied locally by the Limburg prosecutor and the courts in the judicial district of Hasselt. The core statute is the Law of 24 February 1921 on narcotics and psychotropic substances, as amended. It criminalizes production, possession, import and export, sale, and trafficking of controlled substances. Controlled substances are listed in royal decrees and include cannabis, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines, MDMA, and many prescription medicines when used or supplied unlawfully.

Belgium maintains a distinction between personal use and supply, and between cannabis and other drugs, but all non-medical possession is illegal. Small-quantity adult cannabis possession is generally handled with lower priority and simplified procedures, yet it still risks confiscation, a record entry, a fine or settlement, and prosecution if aggravating factors exist. Trafficking, cultivation, production, and supply attract far more severe penalties. Local police in Hasselt investigate, the Limburg prosecutor decides on prosecution, and cases are heard before the Correctional Court for crimes and the Police Court for drug-driving cases.

This guide is general information, not legal advice. Drug policy and prosecutorial guidelines evolve. Always consult a qualified lawyer for advice on your specific situation.

Why You May Need a Lawyer

You may need a lawyer if you are stopped by police and drugs are found on you, in your car, or at your home, even in small quantities. A lawyer can protect your rights during searches and questioning, advise you on whether to speak, and challenge unlawful evidence.

Legal help is vital if you are suspected of trafficking, cultivation, importing or exporting drugs, or supplying to others. These allegations carry significant prison exposure, potential asset seizure, and long-term consequences for work and travel.

Representation is also important for prescription drug cases, for example possession without a prescription, doctor shopping, or unlawful distribution of medicines. These cases involve medical documentation and complex evidentiary issues.

If you are accused of driving under the influence of drugs, a lawyer can analyze the roadside saliva test, confirmation blood analysis, procedural timing, and potential defenses or mitigation, and help protect your licence.

Even for first-time cannabis possession, a lawyer can seek a dismissal, a conditional settlement, or a minimal sanction, and help limit impacts on your criminal record extract. For minors, specialist juvenile counsel is crucial because different rules and protective measures apply.

Local Laws Overview

Offences and penalties. Belgian law prohibits possession, production, transport, sale, import and export of controlled drugs. Penalties escalate with the substance category, quantity, role in the supply chain, and aggravating factors such as involvement of minors, organized activity, use of weapons, or dealing near schools. Fines are subject to a statutory multiplier applied to penal fines. Courts can also order confiscation of proceeds, vehicles, phones, and other assets linked to the offence.

Cannabis policy. Adult possession of a small quantity of cannabis for personal use remains illegal but is often handled with a simplified police report and confiscation. In practice, up to about 3 grams or one female plant is treated as personal use unless aggravating circumstances exist. Aggravating circumstances include public nuisance, possession near schools or public spaces creating disturbance, signs of dealing, or repeat offending, in which case prosecution is more likely. Even a simplified handling can lead to an entry on your criminal record extract depending on the outcome, so it is not risk free.

Trafficking and cultivation. Cultivation of cannabis plants beyond the tolerated personal-use threshold, any production of synthetic drugs, or participation in supply chains is treated as trafficking with significantly higher penalties. Involvement can include sharing, couriering, providing premises, or financial facilitation. Organized activity and large-scale operations are priorities for enforcement in Limburg.

Prescription medicines. Many medicines such as benzodiazepines, opioids, ADHD medications, and sedatives are controlled. Possession without a valid prescription, or sharing or selling prescribed medicine, is illegal. Proof of a valid prescription is essential to avoid liability.

Drug driving. It is an offence to drive with certain illegal drugs in your system above legal thresholds, regardless of apparent impairment. Police in Hasselt use roadside saliva screening followed by a confirmatory blood test. Sanctions include fines, a licence suspension or disqualification, possible imprisonment in serious cases, mandatory medical and psychological assessments, and driver education measures.

Police powers and procedure. Police can stop and search persons or vehicles where there are reasonable indications of drug offences. Searches of homes generally require a warrant or valid consent. Phones, laptops, and messages can be seized and forensically examined subject to legal safeguards. You have a right to consult a lawyer before the first substantive interrogation and to have a lawyer present during questioning for more serious offences. If arrested, you must be brought before an investigating judge within a short statutory time limit for any continued detention.

Alternatives and sentencing. Depending on the facts and your history, the prosecutor can offer a settlement, or the court may consider a suspended sentence, probation, community service, or treatment conditions. Demonstrated engagement with treatment or counseling can be an important mitigating factor.

Minors. Suspected drug offences by minors are handled under youth protection law in the youth court, focusing on educational and protective measures rather than punishment. Parents or guardians and a juvenile lawyer should be involved from the outset.

Language and courts. Hasselt proceedings are conducted in Dutch. If you do not understand Dutch, you can request an interpreter. The competent court for most adult drug cases is the Correctional Court of the Court of First Instance Limburg, Hasselt division. Drug driving cases are heard in the Police Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is cannabis legal in Hasselt?

No. Cannabis remains illegal in Belgium. Adults found with a small quantity for personal use may face simplified handling, but police can still confiscate it, and you can receive a fine or settlement and, in some cases, prosecution.

How much cannabis can I have for personal use without being prosecuted?

No quantity is truly risk free. In practice, possession by an adult of up to about 3 grams or one female plant is generally treated as personal use unless there are aggravating factors. Repeat offences or nuisance circumstances can still lead to prosecution.

What should I do if police stop me and find drugs?

Stay calm, provide identification, and do not resist. You can assert your right to remain silent about incriminating details until you have spoken to a lawyer. Do not consent to a search of your home or phone unless advised by your lawyer, unless police present a valid warrant. Ask to contact a lawyer immediately.

Can the police search my phone?

Police can seize devices during an investigation. Access to content and forensic analysis must follow legal procedures and judicial oversight. You have rights concerning privacy and self-incrimination. A lawyer can challenge unlawful access or scope.

What are the penalties for drug trafficking in Belgium?

Trafficking, production, cultivation beyond personal use, and supply attract significant prison sentences and substantial fines, increased by statutory multipliers. Aggravating factors such as involvement of minors, organized crime, weapons, or large quantities increase penalties. Courts can also confiscate proceeds and property.

What happens if I bring cannabis from the Netherlands into Belgium?

Importing cannabis into Belgium is illegal, even if purchased in a Dutch coffeeshop. Crossing the border with any amount risks seizure, prosecution, and a criminal record.

What if I am caught driving under the influence of drugs?

You may undergo a saliva screening and a confirmatory blood test. If over the legal threshold, you face a fine, licence suspension or disqualification, possible imprisonment in serious cases, and mandatory assessments or courses. Legal defenses often focus on procedure, timing, consent, and reliability of tests.

Will a first-time possession offense give me a criminal record?

Outcomes vary. Some cases result in a warning or a settlement that may limit the impact, but others can lead to a conviction that appears on your criminal record extract. A lawyer may help you obtain a conditional dismissal, settlement, or minimal sanction.

Are CBD products legal?

The status of CBD depends on the product type, THC content, and intended use. Food products, supplements, cosmetics, and smokable flowers are subject to different rules. THC must be effectively absent for most consumer products. Rules change, so seek specific advice before buying or selling CBD items.

How are minors treated for drug offenses?

Minors are dealt with by the youth court under protective measures. The focus is on guidance, treatment, and education rather than punishment. Parents or guardians are involved, and a juvenile lawyer should be consulted immediately.

Additional Resources

Federal Public Service Justice for legislation and procedural rights information.

Federal Public Service Health for information on controlled substances and public health policy.

College of Prosecutors General circulars that guide drug policy and priorities for prosecutors.

Police Zone Limburg Regio Hoofdstad for local policing and victim or suspect information services.

Court of First Instance Limburg, Hasselt division for information about court schedules and procedures.

Bureau voor Juridische Bijstand Limburg for legal aid and duty lawyer access under the Salduz system.

VAD - Vlaams expertisecentrum Alcohol en andere Drugs for prevention, treatment, and harm reduction information.

De Sleutel and CGG - CAD Limburg for drug counseling and treatment services in the region.

CAW Limburg for social support, housing, and welfare assistance linked to substance issues.

Next Steps

Do not make detailed statements to police before speaking with a lawyer. Politely assert your right to consult counsel and to have a lawyer present during interrogation where applicable.

Contact a criminal defense lawyer experienced in drug cases in Hasselt. If you cannot afford one, request a duty lawyer through legal aid. Have your identification, any summons, search or seizure documents, and medical prescriptions ready.

Write down a timeline of events, names of officers or witnesses, and preserve messages or call logs that may help your defense. Do not delete data or attempt to contact co-suspects without legal advice.

Discuss with your lawyer whether voluntary steps such as counseling or treatment could assist with mitigation or eligibility for a settlement or a conditional dismissal.

Strictly respect any release conditions, driving restrictions, or reporting obligations. Missing a deadline or breaching conditions can make your situation worse.

Attend all appointments and court dates. Your lawyer will explain the likely path of your case, potential outcomes, and whether to contest charges or negotiate a resolution.

If you are a parent of a minor involved in a case, contact a juvenile lawyer immediately and engage with youth services recommended by the court or prosecutor.

Laws and policies can change. Reassess your situation with your lawyer if new guidance or legal amendments are published.