Police have uncovered suspected illegal trade in pyrotechnic material on the site of a disused petrol station in Rosport.
According to the public prosecutor’s office in Diekirch, more than a tonne of fireworks had been stored in the abandoned building.
“The premises were not equipped with any suitable safety measures for the storage of such a large quantity of explosive materials and were also located in a residential area. This situation justified an urgent intervention and the immediate mobilisation of the security forces,” the public prosecutor’s office said in a statement on Tuesday.
On Monday, the police searched the premises of the former petrol station © Photo credit: Anouk Antony
Police officers, including members of the judicial police’s weapons and explosives service, carried out a search of the premises of the former petrol station on Monday. A total of 1,140kg of pyrotechnic material was seized and placed in safe storage.
Investigations were initiated against one natural person and one legal entity. The perpetrators risk a prison sentence of between eight days and six months in prison and fines ranging between €251 and €125,000.
However, there is also a suspicion that the sale of the fireworks may have involved money laundering. This carries a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to €1.25 million, which can be as high as €12.5 million for legal entities.
(This article was first published by Luxemburger Wort. Machine translated with editing by Duncan Roberts)