The criminals usually work from industrial estates or rural areas, but are also venturing closer to people, says the mayor: “They might as well start a drug lab in a residential area with small children.”
Despite these two finds this month, there has not been a worrying increase in the number of drug finds in the municipality, says a spokesperson: “But after these two finds, a warning certainly couldn’t hurt.”
Recognize suspicious activities
According to the spokesperson, the municipality carries out so-called ‘integral checks’ every month at locations throughout Haarlemmermeer. “This is done on the basis of reports by citizens. There are signals by which you can recognize suspicious activities. The more people know that they can report such things, the better we can combat them.”
Haarlemmermeer has two known drug import locations in the area: Schiphol and the port of Amsterdam. For example, at the airport last year twice as much cocaine found than in 2022. According to the spokesperson, the mayor’s call is separate from this.