At the Kamping Kitsch Club festival in Kortrijk on Saturday, police caught 18 people with drugs and removed 25 others from the site for inappropriate behaviour, authorities said on Sunday.
Police deployed four drug detection dogs at the festival entrance. The dogs indicated 134 people, and 18 of them were found to be carrying drugs.
An investigation into suspected drug dealing was opened against two people. They were refused entry to the festival, and the drugs were confiscated.
Separately, 25 people were ordered to leave the site because of inappropriate behaviour. The reporting point run by the Sexual Violence Care Centre received no reports of unwanted sexual behaviour.
The centre’s presence at the festival was a first for the organisers. Police also arrested six people for disturbing public order or for public drunkenness.
In addition, four official reports were drawn up over assaults causing injury. The medical post treated 150 people, mostly for minor injuries or ailments.
Despite the incidents, the City of Kortrijk and the organisers said they were satisfied with how the event unfolded, which drew 25,000 visitors.
“From the start, throughout the long and busy festival day, and during the mass departure at midnight, the large-scale policing operation for nearly 25,000 visitors ran smoothly and without major incidents,” Mayor Ruth Vandenberghe said. She thanked all partners involved in preparing and carrying out the security operation.
