News item | 11-12-2023 | 1:00 pm
Tougher action can soon be taken against the most serious forms of drug crime. Organized crime that deals with hard drugs has changed enormously and hardened in recent decades. That is why more scope is provided to demand and impose higher sentences in criminal cases involving hard drugs, such as the large-scale import and export of cocaine and the production of synthetic drugs.
Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius of Justice and Security announced this today a bill to increase the maximum sentences for hard drug offenses in (internet) consultation brought. The possession of hard drugs now carries a maximum prison sentence of 6 years. This changes in the bill to a maximum prison sentence of 8 years. For the intentional trade and production of hard drugs, the maximum prison sentence increases from 8 to 12 years, for the import and export of hard drugs from 12 to 16 years and for the commission of preparatory acts for hard drug offenses from 6 to 8 years.
“The sentences for hard drug offenses have remained virtually unchanged in recent times. In the meantime, the Netherlands has developed into a major producer of synthetic drugs and a transit country for hard drugs. This has a pull effect on internationally operating crime and puts pressure on our national security. These are criminals for whom extortion, intimidation and murder are part of their business model. Hard drugs involve big money and criminal gangs do everything they can to further their illegal trade. By bringing the maximum penalty for hard drugs up to date, we are sending a strong signal that this type of crime will not be tolerated and that strong action will be taken,” said Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius.
According to Minister Yeşilgöz-Zegerius, punishment is the final step in tackling organized crime. This government is investing heavily in preventing young people from being recruited and our economic infrastructure from being abused by criminals. Investigation services are hitting hard in disrupting and rolling up criminal networks thanks to cracking encrypted communication services, such as EncroChat, SkyECC and Exclu.
At the same time, it can be seen that the Public Prosecution Service is now at the top end of the legal maximum prison sentences in cases against the most serious category of drug criminals. Judges also impose very high sentences in such cases, sometimes up to the legal maximum. Suspects of serious drug offenses are usually also charged with other criminal offenses, such as participation in a criminal organization, threats, possession of automatic firearms and money laundering. Over the years, the maximum sentences for these types of related offenses in organized crime have been increased.
By now also increasing the maximum sentence for hard drug offences, more space and flexibility is provided to determine which sentence (requirement) is appropriate given the circumstances in specific cases. By increasing the maximum sentences for hard drug offenses, the Netherlands will also be more in line with neighboring countries when it comes to the criminal law approach to serious drug crime, often committed in the context of a criminal organization.