Three arrests in illegal firework trafficking investigation

The police arrested three people in the Zeeland town of Axel as part of an ongoing investigation into the trafficking of illegal fireworks, the police said in a statement on Sunday. Hundreds of kilos of illegal fireworks were confiscated. The police received information about a possible sale of illegal fireworks on Hofplein on Friday. The transaction was interrupted by police officers, who arrested the three people involved in the sale. This includes the 36-year-old seller, and two buyers aged 26 and 28 years. All three are men from Axel. A number of illegal mortar bombs and arrows were confiscated and will be destroyed. The three suspects' homes were also searched. In a property on Koestraat the police found and confiscated hundreds of kilograms of fireworks. A quantity of loose gunpowder was also found. The Explosive Ordnance Disposal team was called in. The team collected the gunpowder and destroyed it in a controlled explosion in a safe place in the neighborhood. In the home in Koestraat the police found evidence of widespread trade in illegal fireworks. The seller is still in police custody for further investigation. The two buyers were released after questioning as no more illegal fireworks were found in their homes.