Police seize loaded firearm and drugs after traffic stop on A16 highlights rising weapon finds
A routine traffic check on the A16 near Dordrecht led to the arrest of a 35-year-old man from Heerlen after police discovered soft drugs and a loaded firearm in his car. The incident underscores a worrying trend of increased weapon seizures during traffic stops across the Netherlands.
| Key Fact | Details |
|---|---|
| Date of Incident | March 21, 2026 |
| Location | A16 highway, heading toward Dordrecht |
| Arrested Individual | 35-year-old man from Heerlen |
| Items Found in Vehicle | Soft drugs, loaded firearm with ammunition |
| Additional Findings at Home | Another firearm, explosive device |
| Firearms Seized in 2024 | 44 |
| Firearms Seized in 2025 | 61 |
| Recent Weapon Finds (March) | Geleen (March 17), Beekbergen (March 18), A16 (March 21) |
| Police Unit Involved | National Expertise and Operations Unit (LX) |
The National Expertise and Operations Unit (LX) is a specialized division of the Dutch police focused on combating organized crime, drug trafficking, and illegal weapons possession. Their role includes conducting targeted traffic checks to intercept criminal activity and reduce public safety threats.
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Cannabis smell in car leads to discovery of drugs and loaded firearm
On Saturday morning, March 21, 2026, officers from the National Expertise and Operations Unit conducted a vehicle check on the A16 heading toward Dordrecht. During the inspection, soft drugs and a loaded firearm with ammunition were found. A 35-year-old man from Heerlen was arrested.
Cannabis smell
The officers from the National Expertise and Operations Unit observed the vehicle traveling on the A16 toward Dordrecht. Since the car’s fog lights were on, they decided to pull the driver over. During the conversation, the officers detected a cannabis smell. As a result, they decided to search the vehicle and check the four occupants. During the inspection, the police found soft drugs on the front passenger and a loaded firearm with ammunition. The front passenger, a 35-year-old man from Heerlen, was arrested. The other occupants were allowed to continue their journey after questioning.
The police then searched the man’s residence. Another firearm and an explosive device were found in the home. All items were seized. The police are continuing their investigation into the case.
More firearms found in traffic
In recent years, more firearms have been found in traffic than before. The various teams of the National Expertise and Operations Unit (LX) operating on the infrastructure seized 44 firearms in 2024. In 2025, that number was 61. In the week of March 16 to 22, 2026, LX colleagues already found firearms in three traffic checks: on March 17 in Geleen, March 18 in Beekbergen, and in the case described above on March 21. These involved firearms, firearm-like objects, or (modified) alarm pistols. A concerning trend, as any weapon in circulation poses a potential threat.
Checks and reports
The weapons are found during (targeted) traffic checks by the police. Sometimes these checks are conducted in collaboration with partners such as customs. When officers encounter criminal activity while enforcing traffic laws, they can use this to conduct further investigations. This is known as enforcement-based investigation. In addition to checks, vigilant citizens can play an important role. Thanks to the willingness of citizens to report suspicious situations, we can intervene and remove weapons from the streets. The possession of a firearm in a vehicle leads to the immediate arrest of the suspect and the seizure of the weapons.