archive photo. — © BELGA
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During a control action Friday in Merksem, 21 trams were checked. 217 travelers were found not to have a valid ticket, seven people had drugs with them and a coke dealer was caught.
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De Lijn and the Antwerp police zone held a major check on Friday at the tram stops on the Bredabaan near the Burgemeester Nolfplein and the Borrewaterstraat. “The dog support service of the federal police also took part in the action,” said police spokesman Wouter Bruyns.
During the action, 21 trams were checked. 217 fare dodgers were caught, they will receive a report. The drug dogs involved in the action were able to find someone carrying a user amount of drugs seven times. “Each time, the person involved was offered an immediate amicable settlement of 75 euros,” says Bruyns.
The police also deployed some plainclothes inspectors during the check, to prevent suspects from throwing away drugs when they saw the inspectors. “A dealer thought he had outsmarted the police by disposing of incriminating material at the back of the tram,” said Bruyns. The man was caught by the plainclothes police officers, he had thrown away five doses of cocaine.”
During the action, the police found someone who was released on conditions but who had violated those conditions, and an official report was drawn up against her.
sare
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