Brussels, Belgium – Belgian police launched a series of raids across the country in connection to an investigation into alleged corruption within the European Parliament. The probe, which targeted individuals involved in commercial lobbying, resulted in the questioning and detention of several suspects.

Authorities revealed that the investigation also extended beyond Belgium, with police in Portugal carrying out searches at a particular address and one individual in France being arrested. The focus of the inquiry was reportedly linked to Chinese technology giant Huawei and its activities in Brussels dating back to 2021.

According to a statement from the Belgian prosecutor’s office, corruption was believed to have been occurring discreetly since 2021, under the guise of commercial lobbying. The illicit practices reportedly took various forms, including compensating for political influence and providing excessive gifts such as travel expenses and invitations to sporting events.

In response to the allegations, Huawei expressed a commitment to maintaining a zero-tolerance policy towards corruption. The company emphasized its dedication to adhering to all relevant laws and regulations while engaging in commercial activities.

Reports from the Belgian newspaper Le Soir suggested that individuals identified as lobbyists for Huawei were detained as part of the investigation, specifically for allegedly bribing current or former members of the European Parliament to advance the company’s trade policies. Subsequently, Belgian authorities sealed off two offices within the European Parliament as they continued to gather evidence for the case.

Although no Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) were directly implicated in the raids, a total of 21 operations were conducted across various regions in Belgium. The focus of the investigation, as outlined by the prosecutor’s office, centered on allegations of active corruption within the European Parliament, along with potential forgery and money laundering within a criminal organization.