Netherlands National Drug Monitor - Research and Documentation ...

• By comparison with 2007, the percentage of cases involving both hard and soft drugs
declined in 2008.
• In 2007 there were 274 cases in which participation in a criminal organisation was
listed in addition to a drugs offence. This compares with 219 in 2008, which is also
fewer than in 2006 (not in table).
Dismantling of drug production locations
According to the KLPD some 5,200 hemp plantations were dismantled in 2007 and in
2008 over 4,700 (KLPD, 2009). In 2005 and 2006 about 6,000 hemp plantations were
dismantled. The KLPD number of 6,000 has been validated by research (Wouters et al.,
2007). It can therefore be assumed that there was a decline in the number dismantled
in 2007 and 2008.
Reports are compiled annually by the Expertise Centre on Synthetic Drugs on dismantling
operations involving production locations of synthetic drugs and dumping of
chemical waste from synthetic drug production (Expertise Centre on Synthetic Drugs
and Precursors, 2008).
• In 2007, a total of 15 production locations were dismantled and in 2008 21 (table
9.2). This represents a decline since 2006 and particularly compared to 2000-2004.
However, according to the KLPD, the locations uncovered in recent years are larger
in scale than was previously the case.
• Most of the laboratories found in 2007 and 2008 were located in the west and south
of the Netherlands.
• There are increasing reports of ecstasy production in other parts of the world besides
Europe. The most frequently cited location is Canada, followed by Australia (Boerman,
Grapendaal & Mooij, 2008).
• IN 2007 50 instances of dumping of chemical waste from the production of illegal
drugs were registered; in 2008 there were 36 cases (table 9.2). These numbers are
lower than during the 2000-2004 period. Likewise the number in 2008 represents a
decline on 2007. Equally, most of the dumps were found in the south and west of
the country.
• In 2007 the Netherlands topped the list of countries where MDMA tablets were
seized. In 2008, the Netherlands was in second place – behind Germany.
• There is a declining trend in the number of cases (also) involving precursors for the
production of synthetic drugs. These cases relate to the Abuse of Chemical Substances
Prevention Act (WVMC). In 2007 and 2008 respectively, 14 and four cases were
disposed of by the Public Prosecutor. This number is distinctly lower than in 2006,
when there were 25 such cases; it is also low compared to the years 2000 to 2005
(source: OMDATA, WODC; not in table).
• In 2007 there were seven cases and in 2008 six cases involving precursors only. These
numbers differ little if at all from 2006 (source: OMDATA, WODC; not in table).
9 Drug-related crime
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