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🇧🇪 Belgium /Crime & Justice

Police check Gent-Sint-Pieters station after Gentse Feesten incidents; drugs, knife seized

From VRT NWS · () Dutch

Translated from Dutch, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Police conducted extra checks at Gent-Sint-Pieters station over the weekend following incidents at the Gentse Feesten.
  • Officers found many individuals with user quantities of drugs, seized a knife, and arrested a suspected drug dealer.
  • The controls aimed to be a visible deterrent and check for illegal weapons, with over 60 grams of cannabis and 50 grams of hashish confiscated.

Police increased their presence at Gent-Sint-Pieters station on Friday and Saturday nights to deter crime and ensure safety during the Gentse Feesten. The operation followed recent disturbances at the festival.

The extra controls were implemented in response to the incidents of the past few days at or around the Gentse Feesten. We conducted extra checks to be visibly present and to show ourselves as people arrive at Gent-Sint-Pieters station.

— An BergerFederal police spokesperson explaining the reason for increased security measures.

Federal police spokesperson An Berger stated that the controls were intended to be visible and to check for prohibited weapons. While the operation was largely calm, officers discovered a significant number of people carrying drugs. Nine individuals were issued on-the-spot fines ranging from 75 to 500 euros.

Nine of them were offered an immediate amicable settlement of 75 to 500 euros. In addition, one person was judicially arrested for the sale of narcotics, so a drug dealer. And we also seized one prohibited weapon, a knife.

— An BergerDetailing the outcomes of the police checks at the station.

In addition to the drug seizures, which included over 60 grams of cannabis, more than 50 grams of hashish, cocaine, and nine ecstasy pills, police arrested one person suspected of drug dealing. A knife was also confiscated. Berger noted that the number of weapons seized was relatively low, aligning with the preventative goals of the operation.

As far as confiscations were concerned, the control went well, says Berger. The intention of these controls is to act preventatively by being visibly present and by checking for prohibited weapons. One weapon is actually quite low.

— An BergerCommenting on the seizure of weapons during the operation.

Beyond drug and weapon checks, authorities also administratively detained four individuals for lacking legal residency in Belgium. Berger emphasized that the confiscated drug quantities were for personal use, stating, "Many people were in possession of quantities of drugs that you are not allowed to carry."

Many people were in possession of quantities of drugs that you are not allowed to carry.

— An BergerDescribing the drug findings during the police operation.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by VRT NWS in Dutch. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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