Record number of drug labs discovered in Gelderland as prosecutor calls for more funding
Over 50 drug labs have been discovered in Gelderland in the past four years, with a sharp rise in reports of synthetic drug production, according to the Public Prosecution Service (OM) of Oost-Nederland. The alarming trend has raised serious concerns about the region’s increasing involvement in the global drug trade, Omroep Gelderland reports. Prosecutors are now calling for more funding to combat the problem, which has reportedly become a major issue, particularly in rural areas.
Marthyne Kunst, Chief Public Prosecutor for Oost-Nederland, expressed concern in 2022, urging the government to provide more financial support to address the escalating drug crime in rural Gelderland. "Otherwise, the criminal will be the laughing third," Kunst said at the time. Despite some initial increases in project-based and later structural funding, Kunst maintains that the resources are still insufficient.
"Those concerns remain," Kunst emphasized in a recent statement. "However, the criminal is not the laughing third. We are doing everything we can to combat this persistent drug crime."
In the first eight months of 2024, Meld Misdaad Anoniem, a Dutch crime reporting organization, received a record number of tips regarding synthetic drug production. One-quarter of farmers in Gelderland reported witnessing drug crime on their land, a statistic that alarmed Chief Public Prosecutor Kunst. "I am shocked by that," Kunst remarked.
To address the issue, Gelderland's provincial government is taking steps to reduce the number of vacant buildings on rural properties, making it harder for criminal groups to use empty barns for illegal activities. "We try to ensure that these barns are vacant for as little time as possible," explained Gedeputeerde Zoet, a member of Gelderland's provincial government. "We act quickly when it comes to permits—either to repurpose these buildings or demolish them. If there is no empty barn, criminals won’t be able to rent it for illegal activities."
"You are dealing with a very powerful adversary, and unfortunately, we feel that," Kunst said. "When people refuse to cooperate with these criminals, they are met with explosives at their door. This highlights once again that you should not get involved with these people."
The growth of drug-related criminal activities in Gelderland has led to increased pressure on law enforcement. Recent data from the Regional Information and Expertise Center of Oost-Nederland highlights the need for further investment to tackle this rising issue. Kunst, however, notes that merely increasing funds will not solve the problem.
"Money alone is definitely not the solution to the problem. We will also need to work more closely together, both with government agencies and private companies, such as those that are asked to provide large quantities of unusual raw materials," Kunst stated.
The financial cost of drug production on society is enormous. For instance, the cleanup costs of a drug lab in Achter-Drempt, Gelderland, amounted to over 700,000 euros. The authorities now attempt to recover these costs from the drug producers where possible.
Gelderland is currently a national leader in drug-related criminal activities. According to LTO Noord, a Dutch farmers' interest group, over half of the farmers in Gelderland report increasing drug crime in their rural communities. Since 2018, Gelderland has consistently been one of the provinces with the highest number of drug production sites.
