A 54-year-old man has been arrested in connection with citizen border patrols that took place near Ter Apel in Groningen two weeks ago. The suspect is accused of official coercion for obstructing vehicles and questioning occupants along the national border with Germany.

The Royal Netherlands Marechaussee is exclusively responsible for border controls, according to police. They emphasized that private citizens are not authorized to assume this role. The individual in custody had reportedly been warned to cease the actions.

The suspect, identified as Jan Huzen from Nieuw-Weerdinge, is an activist with a prior criminal record. His past offenses include defamation and incitement. Huzen previously garnered attention for his involvement in the childcare benefits scandal and an attempt to locate a missing person’s remains.

The citizen border patrols sparked political debate. While some officials condemned the actions, others voiced support. PVV leader Geert Wilders initially praised the initiative.