Patrolling police officers saw a known person driving in Teteringenstraat around 2:30 PM on Saturday afternoon and decided to stop him for a check. During this check, it became clear that the municipality of Breda had imposed a ‘penalty under coercion’ on the man, a 19-year-old resident of that place, in mid-February. He received this penalty for possessing a commercial quantity of drugs (violation of article 2:70 of the General Local Regulation of the municipality of Breda).

What is a penalty under coercion?

A penalty under coercion is a measure that can be imposed on someone who commits violations or offenses. The purpose is to compel the ‘offender’ to do something correctly, or, as in this case, not to do something. If the offender does not comply with this obligation, he must pay a sum of money (the penalty). The penalty thus serves as a stick behind the door, as a means to encourage the ‘offender’ to adhere to the rules.

Significant bulge

During the check on Saturday afternoon, it became clear that the man had multiple stacks of money with him. He also had a significant bulge in his pants, at the height of his groin. From experience, police officers know that this is often a hiding place for drugs or money, but the man claimed that this was not the case in his situation.
The officers then arrested him on suspicion of possession of (hard) drugs and took him to the station, where he could be further searched. It turned out that the man indeed used his groin as a hiding place: he had a stuffed sock in his underwear. In that sock were various types of hard drugs. The police seized the drugs and the money. A report was drawn up against the man. After consultation with the public prosecutor, the man was released again. The municipality is informed and can start the administrative legal process.