Tomorrowland attendees sentenced after drug sales at festival

Nineteen visitors to the dance festival Tomorrowland in Boom have been convicted for selling or distributing drugs during the event. The Antwerp criminal court handed down sentences ranging from prison terms of up to 40 months to 150 hours of community service, two-year probation sentences, and fines reaching €24,000.

Police caught the individuals during Tomorrowland and immediately removed them from the site. Authorities issued direct court summonses on the spot.

Among those convicted was Dutch national Michael A., who was caught on July 18 selling three ecstasy pills for €60. A subsequent search uncovered seven additional ecstasy pills and €105 in cash. Laboratory analysis showed the pills contained a high level of MDMA. Michael A. claimed he had brought the drugs for personal use but admitted passing three pills to someone he had met, who insisted on paying.

On July 24, Chloe H. came under police scrutiny after entering a restroom with another woman holding cash. After exiting, police questioned both individuals. The woman stated she had purchased 26 ecstasy pills, two bags of ketamine, three bags of cocaine, and a bag of MDMA from Chloe H. for €745. Officers later found additional ecstasy pills, cocaine, and ketamine in Chloe H.’s possession.

That same day, Brazilian national Guilherme d.S.P. handed a pill to a bartender in exchange for money, prompting police to intervene. Officers found ecstasy pills, MDMA, LSD blotters, and €50 in cash during the search. He told authorities the bartender was a friend and that they planned to use the drugs together.

Not all cases involved actual narcotics. Italian national Giacomo V. sold two bags of salt on July 20, falsely claiming the substance was MDMA.

When determining sentences, the court considered the seriousness and circumstances of the offenses, the defendants’ personal backgrounds and ages, their level of accountability, and whether they had prior criminal records.

H/T: VRT.BE