Word is out in the neighborhood: tea house Maricha on Frankenstraat has been shut down. Not for a week or a month, but for an entire year.
Here is what went down:
- On Thursday evening June 11, police raided the tea house
- Nearly half a kilogram of soft drugs was found inside
- The mayor immediately ordered the place closed for 1 year
- The closure falls under Article 13b of the Dutch Opium Act (the law that allows authorities to shut down properties where drugs are found)
This did not come out of nowhere. Local police officers had been picking up signals, residents had been reporting concerns, and there was an ongoing investigation. Police and the municipality worked together to make it happen.
Want to report something suspicious yourself? You can reach out to the municipality, the police, or report anonymously through Meld Misdaad Anoniem. You do not have to give your name, but your tip could make a real difference for the neighborhood. 💪
Article 13b of the Dutch Opium Act, nicknamed the ‘Damocles Law,’ gives mayors the power to shut down properties without needing a criminal conviction. The mere presence of drugs is enough. In Maastricht, this tool has been increasingly deployed in residential neighborhoods in recent years, specifically targeting locations that serve as fronts for drug dealing.
Source: Municipality of Maastricht
