In April 2023, an 84-year-old woman from Hilversum fell ill after drinking a liquid from a gin bottle in her home. Her husband had been hospitalized two weeks earlier with the same symptoms and died, also after drinking a sip from the bottle.

The woman was then also admitted to the hospital. The Emergency Department was temporarily closed to investigate whether the substance posed a danger to others. This was ruled out. The woman died a few days later.

The police launched an extensive investigation into the origin and contents of the bottle. The investigation revealed that the bottle was purchased at a store and then given as a gift to the couple from Hilversum.

One package of bottles
The police, together with the NVWA and the liquor store where the bottle was sold, mapped the situation. The purchased bottle was part of one package containing four liquor bottles filled with amphetamine oil. This package was sent by an unknown suspect to Seville. When sending, the sender falsely named the liquor store as the sender. Because the package was not picked up, it was returned to the liquor store. The bottles were then accidentally placed on the shelves.

Currently, there is no further indication that more bottles from the same batch have entered regular trade or reached consumers. 

Longer investigation
In the past 2.5 years, much research has been conducted. Much remains unclear. What we know is that the package with the bottles was sent from the Netherlands to Spain. Because it was not picked up there, it was sent back to the Netherlands.

We are looking for two Spanish witnesses who tried to pick up a package at a parcel point in Seville in April 2023. This package contained four liquor bottles filled with amphetamine oil.

We also want to speak with people who know who sent the package from the Netherlands or who have more information about this case.. Tips can be submitted online 24/7 via the tip form below. Or call 0900 - 8844. Anonymous reports can be made here.

The crime investigation program Opsporing Verzocht will pay attention to this case on Monday, February 23 at 9:15 PM on NPO2.
On Wednesday, the case will be featured in the regional investigation program Bureau NH, airing from 5:10 PM.