Court hears pill dealers knew customers were dying

The Public Prosecution Service (OM) is looking into nine additional deaths that may be connected to medicines purchased through the Funcaps website. This was revealed on Thursday during a second preliminary hearing against the two suspects accused of running the site in the District Court in Zwolle. The total number of linked cases now stands at 58. The prosecutor noted that 68 cases in total have been examined, with ten showing no connection.

Jord van W., 31, from Ulestraten, and 30-year-old Stefan P. from Valkenburg, together with a third suspect, were arrested in August for illegal medicine trading. Two are still in pre-trial detention, while the third has been released. The court ruled on Thursday that both suspects will remain in custody. “The court considers the suspicion against you to remain sufficiently strong at this stage,” the judge said, adding that there is still a risk of repeat offenses. “It would also be difficult to justify to society if you were released now.”

The court also considers P. a flight risk, citing his ownership of property in Dubai and a valid visa for the Gulf state. In a wiretapped conversation, P. reportedly said that he could “get away quickly if necessary.”

Further toxicological analysis is still underway in 20 cases. In one instance, the Netherlands Forensic Institute concluded that designer drugs were likely a contributing factor in the death of a 20-year-old man, who died by suicide.

The prosecutor stated that the suspects knew about the deaths but were largely indifferent, treating them as part of the business model. “It was collateral damage,” she added. The youngest victim was 17 years old.

At the hearing, the OM presented intercepted WhatsApp messages between the suspects and their staff, showing a disturbing lack of concern for the victims who had died. “Another dead one,” an employee wrote in a group chat with the owners, adding a laughing emoji. Others responded jokingly, saying the victim “was a lonely man anyway” and that it wouldn’t matter to anyone.

In a separate message, Van W. referred to a comparable case in Belgium, saying, “Yes, fucking Belgians, they earned us a nice sum, and it wasn’t that many deaths anyway.” The suspects were sentenced to community service in Belgium.

The prosecutor cautioned that following the November hearing, the perception had formed that Funcaps sold harmless medicines meant to enhance enjoyment. “These are substances that endanger life and health,” she said. She added that the drugs were not provided to people looking for “fun,” but to individuals in psychological distress.

Funcaps.nl was selling prescription-only medicines and similar substances without a license. Investigations and earlier reports indicate the site offered sedatives and benzodiazepine-like drugs, sleep aids, and other illegal or high-risk designer drugs.

The products were sold without medical oversight, dosage guidance, or accompanying leaflets, heightening the risk of dangerous or even fatal consequences.

Investigations and police reports show that some victims bought substances through the webshop without fully understanding their contents. Experts stress that the products were not quality-controlled, could differ significantly from what they appeared to be, and contained no guidance on the medical risks involved.

The suspects’ operation reportedly began in July 2020. The OM states that the business earned 42 million euros in revenue over a five-year period.