Federal Police: warrants and drug case at NRW border
On the weekend of July 10 to 12, 2026, the Federal Police conducted several checks in the North Rhine-Westphalian border area with the Netherlands as part of temporarily reinstated border controls. Officers from the Kleve Federal Police Inspectorate inspected travelers on highway 40, in Kleve and at Gronau station and discovered several outstanding arrest warrants. In most cases, the measures ended with payment of outstanding fines, allowing those concerned to continue their journey. One incident in Gronau is directly linked to a violation of the Narcotics Act.
The temporary border controls are part of an expanded security concept at Germany's external borders. The Sankt Augustin Federal Police Directorate regularly documents the results, highlighting the intensity of border police work in the Kleve, Kempen, Wachtendonk and Gronau region. That weekend, the focus was on both processing outstanding arrest warrants and enforcing judicial orders.
Check in Wachtendonk on highway 40
On Friday morning, the Federal Police checked travelers in a cross-border coach entering from the Netherlands on highway 40 in Wachtendonk. During the routine verification of personal details, a 28-year-old Afghan woman was also checked. A comparison of data in police wanted-person databases revealed that the traveler was being sought with an arrest warrant for theft issued by the Fulda Public Prosecutor's Office.
The arrest warrant was based on a conviction in which the woman had the choice between a fine and a custodial sentence. The sought woman's brother paid the outstanding fine of 450 euros at the police station in Backnang and thereby avoided the threatened 30-day prison sentence. After the police measures were completed, the Afghan woman was permitted to continue her journey and left the checkpoint without further restrictions.
Arrest warrant in Kleve on Nimweger Straße
On Saturday morning, the Federal Police checked a 27-year-old Romanian on Nimweger Straße in Kleve. During a wanted-person check of his personal details, it emerged that the man was being sought by the Nürnberg-Fürth Public Prosecutor's Office with an arrest warrant for driving without a license. In this case as well, detention could be avoided by paying a fine.
An acquaintance of the convicted man paid the outstanding fine of 400 euros to the Federal Police on his behalf and thereby avoided an eleven-day prison sentence. After all police formalities were completed, the Romanian was allowed to continue his journey. The incident shows how systematic border controls can lead to successful apprehensions even in seemingly routine traffic situations.
Narcotics-related case at Gronau station
On Sunday evening, the Federal Police checked a 31-year-old Moroccan at Gronau station as a passenger on regional train RB54. The wanted-person check revealed that the Münster Public Prosecutor's Office was seeking the man for asset confiscation due to a violation of the Narcotics Act. The Federal Police collected the required amount of 33 euros and subsequently allowed the Moroccan to continue his journey.
Although no narcotics were seized during the check, the case is relevant from a drug enforcement perspective. Asset confiscation under the Narcotics Act serves to seize proceeds from drug offenses and is an established instrument of criminal prosecution. Border crossings and stations such as Gronau play an important role in identifying persons connected to narcotics offenses.
Three locations in one weekend
The three incidents were spread across different modes of transport and locations in the border area. While a coach was checked on highway 40 in Wachtendonk and a man was stopped on the street in Kleve, the third measure took place in rail traffic. The range of checks shows that the Federal Police systematically monitors both road and rail traffic at the German-Dutch border.
| Location | Incident | Outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Wachtendonk, A40 | Arrest warrant for theft | 450 euro fine paid |
| Kleve, Nimweger Straße | Arrest warrant, no license | 400 euro fine paid |
| Gronau, station | Asset confiscation, Narcotics Act | 33 euros collected |
Border controls as a tool for criminal prosecution
The temporarily reinstated border controls enable the Federal Police to conduct more intensive checks of persons entering the country. Arrest warrants issued domestically can thus be executed at border crossings where travelers often do not expect police action. At the same time, the controls serve to uncover offenses of various kinds, including violations of the Narcotics Act.
For the Kleve Federal Police Inspectorate, such operations are part of the daily task spectrum at the German-Dutch border. Close cooperation with public prosecutor's offices in Fulda, Nürnberg-Fürth, Münster and other districts is crucial for the success of these measures. Even smaller amounts such as the 33 euros in Gronau can be part of larger proceedings targeting drug crime.
- Border controls from July 10 to 12, 2026 in NRW
- Three arrest warrants executed at different locations
- One case linked to the Narcotics Act in Gronau
- All persons concerned could continue travel after payment
Inquiries to the Federal Police
Inquiries about the incidents should be directed to the Sankt Augustin Federal Police Directorate or the Kleve Federal Police Inspectorate. Press spokesman Uwe Esselborn is available for media inquiries at telephone number (02821) 7451-0 and by email at presse.kle@polizei.bund.de. Further information on the work of the Federal Police can be found on the official website www.bundespolizei.de.
