The sentence demand against a 32-year-old suspect for this deliberate dumping of hazardous substances in nature: three years in prison, one of which is conditional.
Between late 2022 and the first half of 2023, the man was involved in dumpings in the vicinity of Dorst, Geertruidenberg, Vragender, Tilburg, and Oosterhout. Barrels and jerrycans are found at those locations. Investigations show that it consistently involves the disposal of hazardous substances often found in the production of synthetic drugs.
On May 23, 2023, the man was caught red-handed in Olel (Belgium) at an operational drug lab. The contents of his phone revealed that the suspect was involved in multiple drug dumpings in the Netherlands. That information was transferred to the Netherlands and formed the starting point for the investigation.
From the messages on his phone, it is evident that there was frequent discussion about how to organize the dumpings. The suspect has contributed essential to the proven facts by giving orders for and overseeing and partly carrying out the transports.
On December 19, 2022, for example, in the forests near the North Brabant village of Dorst. Phone chats from that day indicate that one of the individuals carrying out the dumping got flammable liquid on his hand, resulting in burns. The location also became contaminated, as later revealed when the dumping site was remediated by special services. Elevated levels of acetone, methanol, and ammonium were measured in nature. The Public Prosecution Service concludes: By illegally disposing of chemical waste, there is a great risk of environmental damage, such as soil and water contamination. The Public Prosecution Service states that the suspect is responsible for the costs incurred by several municipalities to clean up this mess. The damage to municipalities and their residents amounts to tens of thousands of euros.
In the eyes of the Public Prosecution Service, it should not go unmentioned that the suspect played an indispensable role in facilitating (large-scale) drug production: He evidently is part of a network involved in this. This has a disruptive effect on our society. This applies not only to drug production but also to other criminal offenses related to it, such as property crimes or offenses committed to maintain or strengthen ones position in the criminal field.