30 months in prison for cannabis plantation Blankenberge

Gerardus F. hoped in vain for a suspended sentence.

Police got suspicious

On September 28, 2020, the police received a report about shots being fired in a house in Ruiterstraat in Blankenberge. The resident stated that he was demonstrating his air pistol to a comrade. The obvious cannabis smell and the heat in the building made the police suspicious.

A cannabis plantation of 680 plants was found in the attic. Previously, 20 kilograms of cannabis would have been harvested. The investigation showed that the resident had many contacts with a number of Dutch mobile numbers. In the end he designated Jaouad D. (40) as the pivotal figure.

The Dutchman denied his involvement, but was nevertheless sentenced to 40 months in prison in June. Five co-defendants were then sentenced to ten to thirty months in prison. These included three Dutchmen who were involved in installing the plantation. Gerardus F. objected to his sentence to 30 months in prison, as a result of which he received a new trial on September 12.

“No Greater Role”

The defendant admitted that he went to Blankenberge twice from the Netherlands. “He did indeed rent a vehicle to drive to the plantation, but he certainly didn’t play a bigger role,” said Master Tim Smet. The defense noted that F. was the only accomplice to receive a fully effective prison sentence.

In those circumstances, a suspended sentence was unsuccessfully pushed for. A capital gain of 5,000 euros was also forfeited.