A Socially Embedded Drug Market Based on Trust: Analysis of the Synthetic Drug Supply Market in Belgium

Organised crime is often understood as socially embedded, relying on pre-existing social relationships that provide trust and cohesion within criminal networks. This study explores the role of pre-existing social ties within organised crime groups (OCGs) operating in Belgium’s synthetic drug supply market. Using a mixed-methods approach combining judicial case file analysis and interviews with incarcerated individuals, the research applies social network analysis (SNA). While most ties were criminal in nature, a notable 16% constituted pre-existing social ties. These relationships fostered trust, cohesion, and operational stability within OCGs, thereby facilitating cooperation and reducing the risk of detection or betrayal. Pre-existing ties also shaped individuals’ entry into the drug market, particularly for women, whose involvement often stemmed from trusted male relatives or partners. The findings reveal that OCGs in Belgium’s synthetic drug market are deeply embedded in social structures, highlighting the need to address the social embeddedness of organised crime in policy and practice.