The Belgian agents notably seized more than 57 kilos of cocaine, 5 kg of marijuana, 240 grams of hashish or nearly 7 grams of heroin, 10 grams of hallucinogenic mushrooms, 23 grams of amphetamines, more than 2 grams of ketamine and sixty ecstasy pills, federal police said on Monday. The market value of the total drugs confiscated was estimated at more than 3 million euros. In addition, more than 4,600 euros were seized directly and the Belgian customs services collected around 18,000 euros in criminal fines.
A total of 1,559 people were checked in Belgium in 1,182 vehicles, 78 trains and 9 buses. Officers noted that 145 people were in possession of drugs and 48 under the influence at the time of the stop. In addition, they made 12 arrests and confiscated 28 vehicles.
Sorting centers were also checked in order to strike a blow at the distribution networks that operate via postal shipments.
A driver who was transporting drugs in a vehicle with Dutch license plates fled a check on Saturday and a chase took place on the A12 in Antwerp. He drove in the opposite direction and ended up hitting another vehicle, before fleeing on foot. He might have been apprehended.
Cannabis cakes were found in large quantities in the parking lot of Peutie. In total, nearly 650 grams were seized during this cross-border operation.
Saturday evening, two people living in the Netherlands who were carrying a large quantity of cocaine were arrested during a check in Aische-en Refail (Eghezée). They were charged with rebellion and narcotics. They have been placed under an arrest warrant.
These checks at Belgian level are part of the “Hazeldonk” cooperation, through which the police and customs services of the Benelux countries and France target the organized drug distribution networks and the criminal organizations involved.