A 23-year-old man from Emmen has been sentenced to a prison sentence of one and a half years for large-scale drug trafficking, possession of cocaine and money laundering. According to the Public Prosecution Service (OM), six months of this should be conditional.
The prosecutor stated that a 28-month prison sentence “would have been appropriate” given the magnitude of the case. 3.5 kilos of cocaine were found in the suspect’s home.
Research shows that he traded almost 230,000 euros worth of drugs in four months. However, the requirement was lower.
“He comes across as disarming and honest, which makes it all very difficult,” said the officer. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the suspect now appears to have come to terms.
The case came to light after an anonymous report in which both the name and telephone number of the man were mentioned. The police then kept him under surveillance for a longer period of time. At the end of October last year he was arrested and his home was searched.
There, in addition to the cocaine, officers also found large amounts of cash. “There were more than 98,000 euros worth of banknotes in piles of waste paper in cupboards and drawers,” the officer outlined. Luxury goods and a motorcycle were also seized, which were paid for with drug money.
The suspect openly admitted that he had been involved in drug trafficking. He said that he got involved in the circuit during his training.
“I saw others with expensive clothes and scooters. I wanted that too,” he stated. Problems at home and financial pressure played a role in this.
What started with small jobs grew into an extensive business. “I suddenly had a lot of money, but in return I got a life in a golden cage,” he said. “I had to keep looking over my shoulder, I wasn’t free.”
The man also described the impact on his personality. “The black money created a black heart, a black soul. It left me cold, I was a devil.”
After his arrest, the suspect was held in custody for three months. In his own words, that period was a turning point. “Then I was in an iron cage. I was not free again,” he said. He says he now realizes that his actions have harmed others. “I’ve ruined lives.”
The man indicated that he did not sell to minors. “They still have to grow and develop.”
Since his release pending trial, he has improved his life, according to the probation service. He adheres to the conditions, has a job, a relationship and plans for the future.
In addition to the prison sentence, the Public Prosecution Service also wants the suspect to repay the full amount of almost 230,000 euros that he allegedly earned from the drug trade. “Drug trafficking never pays,” the officer emphasized. “This story shows that.”
The suspect’s lawyer called the demand and the confiscation “disproportionate”. According to her, her client is “at the beginning of his career and has not yet built anything up”. She argued for a sentence equal to pre-trial detention, combined with a stiff suspended sentence.
The court will make its ruling on May 7.
