The police in Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and France seized over 55 kg of hashish, 1.5 kg of marijuana, 29 XTC pills and 21 weapons in a cross-border operation last weekend, the federal police report.
A total of 1,991 people were checked during the operation, which took place from Thursday 3 to Sunday 6 February. Of those checked, 250 were found to be carrying drugs.
The 55 kg of hashish were discovered after a Ford Kuga was checked on the E411 in the direction of Arlon for a traffic violation. The drugs were discovered in the trunk of the vehicle. The driver, a Frenchman, was placed under arrest.
In addition to hashish, marijuana, XTC pills and weapons, the police also seized 68 joints, 279 plants, 1 kg of cocaine, 2.5 kg of amphetamines, 32,5 grams of heroin, 152 gr of spacecake, 158 gr of magic mushrooms, 11.5 gr of ketamine, one capsule of laughing gas, 1,000 kg and 1,520 litres of precursors and nearly €50,000.
Additionally, 44 people were under the influence, 14 people were arrested and 19 vehicles were seized.
This “Etoile” operation is part of the ‘Hazeldonk’ cooperation, in which the Benelux countries and France tackle the organised distribution networks of drugs and the criminal organisations involved.
Right before the police operation officially started, the Brussels Railway Police intercepted a man who was on his way to Amsterdam, and had 31 capsules of cocaine hidden in his luggage. After a medical examination on 3 February, he was found to have another 39 capsules in his body. In total, 883 grams of cocaine were seized.
