The Antwerp Public Prosecutor's Office has announced that 37 people were arrested for drug dealing during the two weekends of the Tomorrowland festival.
A total of 181 people were arrested during this double edition of the festival organised in Boom from 21 to 23 July and from 28 to 30 July. In the first weekend of the festival alone, 17 suspected drug dealers were arrested.
The suspects were apprehended while selling drugs in and around the provincial estate hosting the festival. They will all have to appear before the criminal court at a special hearing for drugs at Tomorrowland to be held later in the year. These will take place on 25 October for the dealers caught during the first weekend and on 18 December for those apprehended during the second weekend.
The police also caught 360 festival-goers who were found to be in possession of a quantity of drugs presumably intended for their own personal consumption.
The people concerned were fined and had to pay a fine, which had to be collected on the spot. The total fines collected amounted to €86,250. The drugs were seized. Offenders were also asked to hand in their festival access wristbands and leave the premises immediately. People found with large amounts dealers were arrested.
In total, 181 people were arrested during the 17th edition of Tomorrowland, which was organised over two weekends in Boom, from 21 to 23 July and 28 to 30 July. As well as drug-related offences, other offences included public drunkenness and other forms of nuisance and joy-riding.
A total of 99 people were apprehended for trying to enter the festival site without a valid wristband or ticket. One of them was none other than Flemish YouTuber Acid, who posted a video of his failed attempt on his social media.
Police also seized 29 taxis in the vicinity of the festival site. Their drivers were accused of having picked up customers outside of designated areas or having a vehicle that was not legally registered.
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Twelve drones, whose use was banned on the site for safety reasons, were also confiscated by officers. Other offences recorded during the two Tomorrowland weekends included 141 reports of pickpocketing and theft from vehicles.
Two people died at the festival this year. One of these cases was related to the consumption of drugs, the Antwerp Public Prosecutor's office announced.
