News report | 28-01-2026 | 15:49
The Amsterdam police arrested a total of five suspects in mid-January at an industrial estate in Amsterdam Nieuw-West and in Lelystad. Initially suspected of importing marijuana, the suspicion of possession of ketamine was later added. The five suspects came into focus following information from an ongoing foreign investigation. Their pretrial detention was extended last Monday. The suspects were under all restrictions until recently, which is why the arrests are only now being reported.
The five suspects, aged between 28 and 42 years, are all of Chinese nationality. They are suspected of intentionally importing and possessing narcotics and possession of ketamine.
After a request came from abroad to intervene in the possible delivery of narcotics at a property in the western port area, investigators saw a van with a foreign license plate park at that property. The cargo was transferred to a rental van, after which the van drove to a nearby dead-end street. There, the shipment was transferred again to another van. At the industrial estate, the police arrested four men, all of Chinese nationality.
Ketamine hidden in decorative tiles
During follow-up investigations in Lelystad, a fifth suspect, also a man of Chinese nationality, was arrested. Boxes containing a total of approximately fifty kilograms of marijuana were found in a van. During a house search, the police found tools and molds used to press white decorative tiles. Further investigation showed that the suspects used two storage units in a storage facility in Almere. A total of 148 wall tiles were found in these units, each weighing about seven kilograms. The total weight was approximately 1,000 kilograms. Initial forensic research showed that ketamine was hidden in some of the decorative tiles. Further investigation is ongoing.
Priority
This operation shows how international cooperation and controlled deliveries can contribute to effectively combating drug and medicine smuggling. For both the police and the Public Prosecution Service (OM), cases like these have high priority. The (large-scale) trade in narcotics has enormous and disruptive effects on society and is often accompanied by violence, extortion, and even liquidations. Also consider the social consequences of addictions for addicts and their environment, deterioration of the living environment, and undermining (criminal money from the underworld invested in the upper world).
The five suspects were under all restrictions until recently, preventing contact with anyone except their lawyer. Due to these restrictions, the arrests were not reported earlier. Last Monday, the five suspects appeared before the Council Chamber of the Amsterdam court, which ordered detention for all five men for a period of ninety days. The police investigation continues. Further arrests are not excluded.
Reporting pays off
Municipalities, police, public prosecution service, and other organizations work together in the fight against drug crime. But you as a resident or entrepreneur may be the most important link. Do you see, hear, or smell suspicious activity in your neighborhood? Or do you smell a strong chemical odor around a property or house? Or does someone regularly carry barrels and jerrycans in and out of a house? Take it seriously and report it to the police via 0900-8844. Prefer to report anonymously? This can be done at Report Crime Anonymously via 0800-7000.