On February 12, 2024, a drug lab in a horse stable in Herveld exploded. Motorists on the nearby highway saw the explosion and the mushroom-shaped smoke cloud. Part of a drug kettle was blasted through the roof. Debris was hanging in the trees, and the area smelled of anise. Witnesses saw a man in his underwear fleeing the stable and leaving in a charred car. This man was later arrested on the highway. Today, he stood trial in Zutphen for causing the explosion of the drug lab. He is also charged with involvement in the production and possession of hard drugs and the careless handling of hazardous substances. The Public Prosecution Service demands a prison sentence of 6.5 years against the 55-year-old suspect.
The suspect denies causing the explosion. He claimed he was on the premises for security against burglary but was not near the kettle. According to the Public Prosecution Service, that statement is implausible because the explosion occurred during the distillation process. During that process, someone must always be present to replace the measuring cup when it is full. The suspects DNA was also found in various places in the drug lab. Furthermore, he was also injured. He had a broken jaw and did not want to explain how that happened.
The suspect was aware of the risk of a life-threatening explosion or should have been aware. Several weeks earlier, a disaster occurred in Rotterdam, where a drug lab also exploded. Nevertheless, he continued his work in the drug lab and did not take any safety measures. He knowingly took the risk. Legally, therefore, according to the Public Prosecution Service, there is intent. The prosecutor stated: “I assume the suspect was the cook and was responsible for the entire production process. Furthermore, I assume the drug lab had been active for a longer time. The suspects phone was first active near the location on January 12, 2024. Moreover, the amount of drugs found indicates that production had been ongoing for some time.” In six of the seventeen freezers in the drug lab, approximately 184 kg of MDMA crystals were found, with a market value of €420,000. Additionally, 75 liters of methamphetamine base were found, from which methamphetamine could be produced, with a market value of another €675,000.
The police also found containers with thousands of liters of hazardous substances, such as phosphoric acid, acetone, and hydrochloric acid. Approximately 4,500 liters of drug-related waste were also found. No measures had been taken to properly store or dispose of these substances. This posed a significant risk to the environment. This is a violation of the Environmental Management Act. Investigations also revealed the presence of amphetamine in the soil.
The prosecutor justified her demand as follows: “This suspect has produced drugs for his own financial gain and disregarded all the consequences it could have for the lives of others and for the environment. Synthetic drugs pose a danger to public health. Moreover, it is well known that production carries significant risks of fire, explosion, and the release of toxic substances. Given the seriousness of the facts, I believe only an unconditional prison sentence is appropriate.”
Finally, the prosecutor demanded payment from the suspect for the costs of cleaning up the drug lab. Based on the Opium Act, this has been possible since July 2022. The amount is €69,807.85. This includes the costs for dismantling, including the disposal of chemicals, residual waste, and hardware for destruction.