Police see a shift from alcohol to drugs on Ostend Beach

“In good cooperation with the organizers, we succeed in significantly reducing the use of resources, so that everyone can go out safely and well,” emphasizes police chief Philip Caestecker. The traffic enforcement service, in collaboration with the West Flemish Police School, carried out intensive checks throughout the weekend.

No positive breath test

Remarkable: no fewer than 394 motorists took a negative breath test, not a single driver blew positive. Yet two drivers took an ‘alarm’ test, meaning they had their license revoked for three hours.

Furthermore, 44 drug tests resulted in a ‘safe’ result, twelve other tests were positive. “We are noticing a shift in traffic from alcohol to drug use,” says Chief of Police Caestecker. “Don’t worry that we will pay extra attention to this in the future. Checks are also planned in the coming period in regular police operations, separate from last weekend’s festival.”

In total, the police also had eleven vehicles towed because the vehicles were not in order with their insurance or the driver did not have a valid driver’s license in his pocket.

drugs

On the festival site itself, the Ostend Police Department was also active throughout the weekend. This resulted in 81 positive findings on drug possession, ranging from cannabis, ecstasy, MDMA, amphetamines and cocaine. In 63 cases, an immediate amicable settlement could be proposed, amounting to a total of 7,400 euros in collections. The highest fine was 500 euros.

The findings concern 54 Belgians and nine other nationalities. On the festival site itself, the police were able to arrest a couple on suspicion of drug dealing. The Public Prosecution Service will investigate the matter further.

Two undocumented migrants were also taken from the festival site and made available to the Immigration Department.

Safe partying

“We look back positively on the festival weekend. The number of findings is decreasing and the checks are bearing fruit. The main goal is and remains that everyone can celebrate safely and well,” the chief of police emphasizes.

“The focus was now on Ostend Beach, but all summer long we have been alert to the use of drugs and other prohibited substances.”