The 67-year-old man who was convicted of involvement in a large drug lab in Willemsoord, just across the provincial border with Overijssel, is appealing. The Court of Overijssel confirms this following reports from the Dagblad van het Noorden.
Last month, the man from Willemsoord was sentenced to more than two and a half years in prison. His former home was used as a crystal meth lab. Nearly 500 liters of base oil of the drug were found.
According to the court, the man was not the big boss behind the drug laboratory in Willemsoord, but he did play a significant role in the story. For example, he did various activities in the lab, checked the ‘drug cooks’ and fetched and brought things for them. Four years in prison had been demanded against the former resident, but the conviction was ultimately a lot lower.
When the police raided the villa three years ago, the 67-year-old man was there alone. He stated that he had taken in a number of Spanish-speaking men. They would be from a TV production company and rent out the shed. When he found out in his own words that it was wrong, he couldn’t go back. He said he was threatened by two Mexican brothers.
The police file shows that there may indeed have been the presence of Mexican drug criminals. It strongly appears that the lab was run by a Mexican who calls himself ‘Pablo IceCobar’ on encrypted communication apps. Targeting the former drug lord Escobar and the drug Crystal Meth, which is also called ICE. According to the judiciary, Pablo IceCobar was one of the largest meth producers in Europe.
It is not yet known when the appeal will take place in this case.