Anyone who thought that the Netherlands only plays an important role in the world as an importer of drugs is wrong. The Netherlands is also an important pivot in the international trade of the life -threatening and very addictive synthetic drug Kush, according to research by the Clingendael Institute.
Kush is a drug that consists of synthetic cannabis or nitazenes, very heavy painkillers, mixed with chemicals such as acetone. A few shreds of the stuff are enough for a high, says Kars de Bruijne van Clingendael. He participated in the investigation, which was commissioned by the government of Sierra Leone. “Dealers mix the kush with tobacco and flow so that the user can smoke it. Someone can be addicted within a few cigarettes. ”
The drug is widely used in Sierra Leone, but now also affects surrounding countries in West Africa. In Sierra Leone and Liberia, even the state of emergency has been announced because of the ‘drug epidemic’. De Bruijne himself also went to Sierra Leone to see what Kush caused there.
What did you find there?
De Bruijne: “I saw which society-disruptive effect Kush has. Someone was busy washing himself on the street, but suddenly stiffened stiffening in front of him for half an hour. A lot of people, especially young people, are addicted to the drug and eventually die from it. You see them changing in skeletons in skeletons. Within almost every family I spoke, I heard stories about addicts or deceased people. ”
“It is impossible to say how many kush users there are in Sierra Leone. When I was there, I saw many young people who used it. It starts early, sometimes at twelve years. It is very difficult to get rid of Kush. There are very few treatment clinics. Sometimes addicts are just fixed for a few weeks so that they cannot use. Also by family members. ”
Who use Kush?
“In Sierra Leone there are two groups of users. The group that already used cannabis and now noticed that Kush worked faster, is more addictive and also cheaper. Then the step is quickly taken. The other group consists of young people who touch the drugs due to a lack of social perspective. There is no work for the young people and they do not feel part of society; Drugs can work as an outlet valve for them. It turns your head off. You escape from reality. ”
Kush ends up in Sierra Leone via the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, you discovered. How is that possible?
“The Netherlands supplies ready-made Kush. We also have indications that raw materials only go to Sierra Leone from the Netherlands, just like from China. We do not know whether the chemicals needed for Kush are made in the Netherlands.
“The deliveries go through the sea and through the air. Packed in containers, but also in suitcases, bags or cardboard boxes. We have found it in a car, and in a five -liter bottle from a Dutch juice manufacturer. Apparently, the traders have access to that type of packaging. Or machines that can make such labels. “
Recently it turned out that the Dutch drug criminal ‘Bolle Jos’, convicted of cocaine trade, is in Sierra Leone, among others. Justice has been looking for him for years. Is there a chance that he will deal with the trade in Kush?
“I don’t know, but it seems unlikely. The Kushmarkt is really different from the trade in cocaine. The largest load of Kush that has been intercepted was 300 kilos, against a street value of 3.5 to 4 million dollars. That is small beer compared to cocaine. “
What should happen to prevent kush addictions?
“It is important that the government in Sierra Leone puts energy in limiting the damage, with support from the Netherlands and the UK. There is now far too little medication available for users who have had an overdose. In addition, there are too few treatment clinics.
“The Dutch government must also look at exports to abroad. We must ensure that it is checked so that fewer drugs go to Sierra Leone. That is in the interest of the entire region. Otherwise the same excesses are in danger of arising in the countries around it. ”
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