A total of 1,166 passengers were caught without an appropriate ticket or travel pass on the STIB network. This occurred on Tuesday during a full integrated police action (“FIPA”), led between 2 p.m. and 9 p.m. on the public transport system in the Brussels-Capital region.
This was announced on Wednesday in a federal police communiqué.
Eighteen cases of fraud were picked up on the SNCB on the North-Midi route, and 45 on the De Lijn network. The police stated, “The aim of this action was to further reduce crime on the Brussels public transport system, and reinforce the feeling of safety amongst passengers.”
This action also allowed one individual possessing 180 grams of heroine on the North-Midi route to be caught, and the discovery of cannibis plants at the home of an individual residing in the Brussels-West police zone.
In this same zone, four individuals still serving a prison sentence were caught.
Lastly, 31 individuals were caught on the basis of their illegal residence in the country.
This action, coordinated by the General Directorate of Support and Management from the Brussels federal police, was carried out as a joint action.
Other parties involved included the six police zones in the Brussels-Capital region, the Railway Police and the security services of the public transport providers, being the SNCB, the STIB-MIVB, De Lijn and TEC (Wallonia's regional transport network).
The cases of illegal immigration were dealt with by specialist agents from the Immigration Office.
The Brussels Times
