The Public Prosecution Service (OM) demanded prison sentences of 2 to 5 years against five suspects for their involvement in a cocaine washing operation in a warehouse in Heinenoord. At the property of another suspect in s-Graveland, 1500 kilos of PMK, the raw material for MDMA, was found. Two men are also suspected of possession of a firearm.
The investigation started based on information from Colombia that a batch of washed cocaine would be imported through Antwerp to the Netherlands. In two containers, bags of metal grit were supposed to be present, containing the washed cocaine. A Colombian man was also mentioned as being responsible for the reception of the narcotics.
Cocaine Washing Facility
The police get the 59-year-old Colombian in their sights. By following him, the police arrive at a warehouse in Heinenoord. During a search on August 10, 2023, the police find a cocaine washing facility under construction. The chemicals found in the warehouse and a handwritten recipe match the washing of cocaine. Investigators also discover 1500 kilos of PMK at the property of a 55-year-old man in s-Graveland.
Specialized Cook
The investigation into the cocaine washing facility brings six more suspects into view. The prosecutor from the National Prosecutors Office sees the Colombian as the specialized cook who came to the Netherlands to wash cocaine from the carrier material. The OM sees the other suspects as the executors who arranged the chemicals, equipment, transportation, and location. These include a man from Vlaardingen (33), a man from Willemstad (43), a man from Barendrecht (33), a man from Papendrecht (62), a man from Hilversum (58), and the owner (53) of the warehouse in Heinenoord.
“In recent years we have seen an increasing number of cocaine washing facilities, and drug cooks are coming to our country to work in such a lab. This is concerning. The labs are sometimes located in residential areas, which is life-threatening due to the risk of explosions.”
Acquittal
Although the bags of metal grit from the containers were indeed found, the washed cocaine was not located. Therefore, the prosecutor demands acquittal for the import of it. However, the OM requests prison sentences for the preparatory actions of cocaine production. The suspect from s-Graveland is the only one suspected of possession of PMK.
The prosecutor demanded prison sentences of up to five years and fines of up to 10,000 euros against six suspects. For two suspects from Heinenoord and Hilversum, the OM demanded acquittal due to lack of evidence.