The Hague, January 21, 2026

The District Court of The Hague sentenced a 33-year-old suspect for possession of drugs with others, committing criminal preparatory acts for processing MDMA, and importing and transporting prohibited pills. All this took place in December 2023 in Zoetermeer and at Schiphol. The court imposed a prison sentence of 24 months, of which 6 months are conditional. 

Business Premises

The suspect was the tenant of a business premises in Zoetermeer where a drug laboratory was found on December 11, 2023. On the ground floor and the upper floor of the warehouse, various goods and chemicals were found that can be used in the manufacture and processing of synthetic drugs. A pink substance was also found containing MDMA and amphetamine, and prohibited pills were discovered.

According to the suspect, he rented the business premises and a forklift at the request of someone else, whose name he does not want to mention. This person allegedly paid him the rent plus an extra 250 euros. The suspect claimed he did not use the business premises himself but did enter it a few times. He stated that he used the forklift to load and unload jerrycans with skull markings and did odd jobs for that unknown person. He knew it was illegal, he declared. He monitored the business premises daily via a camera and also knew there was a press.

Court Judgment

The court finds that the suspect is guilty of five criminal offenses. Together with his co-perpetrator(s), he was guilty of possessing 800 grams and 190 milliliters of MDMA and of criminal preparatory acts related to MDMA. Additionally, he was guilty of importing 989,500 Tamoll-X 225 mg pills (listed on List I of the Opium Act). He also had 810,000 Nervigesic pills in stock for which he had no trade or wholesale license in the Netherlands. Finally, the suspect imported 454,900 Pregacare 300 mg pills without a permit. 

The admission, quality, and efficacy of medicines and their prescription and trade are strictly monitored by the licensing system under the Medicines Act. The suspect evaded this supervision and thus endangered public health. The hard drugs he possessed pose a serious threat to the health of users. 

All things considered, the court finds a prison sentence of 24 months appropriate and necessary, of which 6 months are conditional. The court attaches various conditions to the conditional part to prevent the suspect from reoffending.

Judgments

    ECLI:NL:RBDHA:2026:853