A year after a man from Urk joins the military service at Defence, he starts trafficking drugs from his home. When arrested, the police find not only MDMA and cocaine but also stun guns, a baton, fake firearms, and a practice explosive grenade. Over 6000 euros in cash is also discovered. Today, the accused heard a demand for a 30-month prison sentence, of which 10 months is conditional, in the military chamber of the court in Arnhem.
The investigation into the man from Urk stems from an inquiry into another soldier for drug possession. From this soldiers phone, it appeared that he bought drugs from a colleague in Urk. The phone number used for this purchase matches the number mentioned in a report made to Meld Misdaad Anoniem about drug trafficking from the residence. This prompted the Royal Military Constabulary, under the direction of the Public Prosecution Service in East Netherlands, to start an investigation into the soldier from Urk in 2024. When suspicions of drug trafficking arise from phone conversations, the man is arrested on April 2, 2024, in his home.
Data from his phone shows that between 2019 and 2024, he sold drugs to 93 people. This included 3 MMC, 4 MMC, 2CB, ecstasy pills, ketamine, magic mushrooms, and kamagra. The soldier admits to using and trafficking drugs himself, but says he is shocked by the scale at which this occurred.
In addition to trafficking various types of drugs, the charges include possession of cocaine and MDMA and possession of two fake firearms; a replica Colt and Glock.
The soldier was aware that drugs are not tolerated within the Defence organization. The prosecutor finds it incomprehensible that he continued with this. ‘The accused has endangered his own health and that of others and jeopardized his own career as a soldier. This has also come to light, as the accused has been dismissed as of March 1. With a case like this, Defence is entirely discredited,’ said the prosecutor today in the requisition.
After completing his interrogations by the Royal Military Constabulary, the soldier was released. However, the mayor of Urk denied him access to his home for three months. Given the scale of the drug trafficking, the prosecutor believes a prison sentence of 30 months, of which 10 months is conditional with a probation period of three years, is appropriate. Additionally, the Public Prosecution Service demands that the man repay the profits he made from drug trafficking and has filed a confiscation claim of over 26,500 euros.