The Public Prosecution Service in Northern Netherlands has demanded up to five years in prison for seven men suspected of involvement in a drug lab in Kootstertille. Additionally, the Public Prosecution Service suspects four of these men of involvement in a lab in Grootegast. The men range in age from 37 to 60 years and come from Mexico, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, Utrecht, and the municipality of Achtkarspelen.
“This case is a classic example of undermining,” says the prosecutor. “In small villages in the countryside, sheds and barns of local residents are used by criminals from other parts of the country to set up drug labs.”
On February 26, 2021, police raided a shed in Kootstertille and found an operational synthetic drug lab. A 51-year-old man from Mexico and a 57-year-old man from Amsterdam were caught red-handed. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the Mexican is the cook, and the Amsterdammer assists him that day during the production of synthetic drugs. The 39-year-old owner of the shed was also arrested. He resides in the municipality of Achtkarspelen.
Methamphetamine
In Kootstertille, large quantities of goods, raw materials, and auxiliary materials for drug production were found. This includes various chemicals and five barrels of 120 liters for making methamphetamine.
Further investigation reveals that four other men are also involved in this drug lab. It also becomes clear that a synthetic drug lab had previously operated in Grootegast. On March 11, 2021, the remnants of that lab were seized. The owner of that property is a 40-year-old man. He, like the owner of the other shed, comes from the municipality of Achtkarspelen.
From Organizers to Drivers
The suspects believe they are communicating safely via their (Sky) encrypted phones and are therefore relatively open in their communication about their criminal activities. Among other things, this communication reveals what the division of tasks was among them. For example, both owners of the sheds helped set up the drug lab in Kootstertille, and a 32-year-old man from Rotterdam was a (taxi) driver, who transported the involved cook and the necessary goods. A 37-year-old man from Utrecht and a 39-year-old Amsterdammer emerge in the investigation as organizers of everything.
Time Frame
It has now been four years since the drug lab in Kootstertille was dismantled. The fact that the case is only now being substantively assessed has to do with legal procedures regarding whether the authorities were allowed to read encrypted phone messages. A lack of court capacity also played a role. The Public Prosecution Service has taken this into account in its sentencing demands.
Sentencing Demands
The highest sentence was demanded against the cook and the Utrecht organizer: five years in prison. Against the owners of the sheds in Kootstertille and Grootegast, the prosecutor demanded 36 and 24 months of imprisonment, respectively. For the cooks assistant, a sentence of 104 days plus 12 months of conditional imprisonment was demanded. For the Amsterdam organizer, the prosecutor demanded a prison sentence of 4.5 years.
Notably in this criminal network is the role of the suspect from Rotterdam. He had a permit to drive a taxi, which allowed him to move much more easily during the corona period. Therefore, in addition to a prison sentence of 24 months, a professional ban as a taxi driver for the duration of three years was also demanded against him.
In addition to prison sentences, the prosecutor also demands that both organizers pay a fine of €25,000 each.
In this case, a 60-year-old Amsterdammer must still appear before the Dutch court. His case will be treated later, as he is currently detained in Argentina. The court in Leeuwarden will issue a ruling on May 8.