National Threat Assessment 2008. Organised Crime - Politie

up in Sweden in 2004 and in the Netherlands, Belgium, France and Germany in
2005. In all of these cases the mCPP tablets were sold as ecstasy. In 2006, a total
of 385,000 mCPP tablets were intercepted and an mCPP tabletting facility was
dismantled. A single intercept operation in August 2007 in Kennemerland
yielded 3,000 litres of mCPP.
The time when the use of doping substances was limited to (top-class) sport
to enhance performance is long past. Doping substances are also used for other
purposes, including slimming, solving concentration problems or because people
want to improve their general physical condition. 23 There are apparently tens of
thousands of users who fall into this category in the Netherlands. The substances
are usually sent by post in small batches (several dozen capsules, for example).
Consumption is growing due to a lack of efficient monitoring, the presence of
several non-regulated markets and the availability of the substances online. In
the north of the Netherlands one criminal organisation was trading in anabolic
steroids, growth hormones, testosterone and GHB. Substances considered to
be performance-enhancing are mainly sold through the world of gymnasiums
and fitness centres.
2.4.4 Criminal organisations
The players in the synthetic drugs market can be classified roughly on the
basis of logistical involvement. Chinese and Eastern Europeans dominate the
smuggling and importing of precursors. Dutch nationals control the procurement
of other chemicals and hardware, as well as production. The sales market is
controlled by people of various different nationalities.
People involved in the smuggling of precursors
Trading in the precursor PMK is mainly controlled by Hong-Kong Chinese
living in the Netherlands. In addition, there are a few Dutchmen who obtain
the substance in China. Purchasing in China is cheaper, but the buyers then
run the risks involved in transporting the substance to the Netherlands. In the
Netherlands the smuggled shipment is usually sold quickly to various buyers
(who are linked to the producers). The smugglers are generally not the people
who own the shipments.
23
Paul Minnebo, 2005. Iedereen kan doodvallen.Bevindingen uit een omgevingsonderzoek
naar de handel in dopinggeduide middelen. Memorandum published by the National Public
Prosecutor’s Office for Financial, Economic and Environmental Offences.
chapter 2 – Illegal markets
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