Police arrest seven in connection to June drug lab fire in Middenbeemster
Seven men were arrested Thursday in connection with a large synthetic drug lab discovered at a former distribution center on Insulindeweg, the Public Prosecution Service in The Hague confirmed Friday. The arrests followed a major fire at the site last month that drew widespread attention due to thick smoke spreading as far as Amsterdam.
According to NH news, the seven suspects were detained during coordinated police raids at various locations across the country. Authorities identified one suspect as the father of the distribution center’s owner. The men include two from Volendam, ages 24 and 54; a 26-year-old from Utrecht; two from The Hague, ages 33 and 56; a 59-year-old from De Meern; and a 46-year-old from Woerden.
The men face charges of producing synthetic drugs. The examining magistrate extended their pretrial detention by two weeks during the Friday hearing.
The fire broke out in the early morning hours of June 19 at the former distribution center for the supermarket chain Plus. It generated massive smoke clouds visible across much of Noord-Holland, prompting two NL-Alerts urging residents to keep windows and doors closed.
Emergency services from Amsterdam and Noord-Holland-Noord were called in to assist the local fire brigade, which expected to battle the blaze for several hours. Roads around the site remained closed for emergency operations, and nearby schools and childcare centers remained shut due to the smoke.
