‘I had to stand my ground’: An exploratory study on women’s involvement in the Belgian synthetic
drug market
Despite increasing interest in women in general criminological research and studies on organised (drug) crime, the involvement of women in the Belgian synthetic drug market remains understudied. This article aims to shed light on the involvement of women within organised crime groups active in the Belgian synthetic drug market. Data were collected through 29 interviews with incarcerated women (n=5) and men (n=24) convicted for their involvement in the production and/or trafficking of synthetic drugs. The results indicate that: (1) women constitute a minority in the Belgian synthetic drug market; (2) no women were active at the production level; (3) women active in wholesale, middle and retail levels show few differences in their roles compared to men; (4) women hold significant positions in international drug trafficking; (5) pre-existing connections with men are crucial for women in terms of group entry and participation in drug supply activities; and (6) women are subject to strict group rules, facing threats to ensure compliance with these group regulations. This exploratory study reveals that women effectively navigate the male-dominated world of synthetic drug production and trafficking.