The mayor has decided to close an establishment in the Pothoekstraat for three months following repeated findings of drug-related activities. During a police check in the Stuivenberg district, officers discovered, among other items, cannabis, small plastic bags, and a precision scale. The venue had previously been closed earlier this year for other offenses.
Previous inspections had already identified various violations, including those related to hygiene and fire safety. This led to a three-week closure at the end of January. In July, police found three individuals in a rear private room distributing and using cannabis and hash, resulting in a formal report for drug possession. A subsequent check in August, during a targeted operation against illicit trade in Antwerp-North, found five people, including the manager, smoking marijuana around a poker table. The table held approximately 40 grams of cannabis, several grip bags, and a precision scale. In a coat near the table, 905 euros in cash was found. A search at the manager's residence yielded an additional 4,300 euros in cash. The manager stated that the cannabis was partly for personal use and partly for sale.
The combination of narcotics, packaging materials, a precision scale, significant amounts of cash, and the use of separate rooms indicates organized drug trafficking, according to the police. The establishment served as a meeting and attraction point for individuals from the drug scene, posing a serious risk to public order, safety, and the neighborhood's livability.
Given the seriousness and repeated nature of the findings, Mayor Van Doesburg has decided to close and seal the establishment for three months. This measure aims to halt drug-related activities and restore peace to the neighborhood.
