The recently arrested reality star Gianni van der B. (29) is also linked to a large Belgian drug case. De Wetenaar is currently incarcerated for the largest crystal meth lab ever discovered in the Netherlands and last year he was convicted in yet another drug case.
All this is apparent from research by L1.
Also read: Reality star arrested for the largest meth lab in the Netherlands
Operation Impact
On November 7, 2017, ‘Operation Impact’ brought a group of agents to Weert. Police found raw materials and equipment to produce synthetic drugs on a large scale in a garage and shed that Gianni had rented, according to the court. In addition, there was material to set up a professional hemp plantation.
Sit for one year
The case was shelved for a long time and it finally took until March 29, 2021 for the judge to reach a verdict. Gianni was sentenced to one and a half years in prison; six months of that sentence were suspended. The twenty-something denies his involvement in the case. Gianni and lawyer Gitte Stevens appealed and are still waiting for the hearing.
In the meantime, Gianni has shifted his attention to Belgium, the judiciary thinks. A drug lab was discovered there on 3 August 2020 in Leopoldsburg. Both Gianni and his friend Damien B. (31) are now explicitly linked to that lab.
Criminal Chats
They would have communicated about the lab via the cracked messaging service SkyECC. According to the judiciary, the Weerter duo was in a group conversation with two others, who are called Brakka and Dave. The group discussed building the drug lab and shared photos. Those photos correspond to what the Belgian police found in Leopoldsburg.
‘Belgium cock’
Conversations also link the chat group to the Belgian lab. ‘Are you already in Belgium,’ writes Brakka on June 18, 2020. ‘Belgium? Didn’t you forget something then. Do I have to drive myself?” Gianni replies. They also talk about ‘Sjors’ who is not at home. The landlord of the drug building is called Georges V. (59) and has been arrested for involvement in the lab.
Despite strong suspicions, it is questionable whether Belgian authorities will prosecute Damien and Gianni. Five people have already been arrested at an earlier stage and the case is virtually closed. The judge in Hasselt will rule on Friday. Justice demanded prison sentences of four to eight years against the aforementioned Georges and Robert B., Bjorn J., Karel de L. and Bas M. (29). The latter also comes from Weert and is a good acquaintance of Damien and Gianni.
Million dollar value
Gianni is now stuck in the Harrier case. He is seen by the judiciary as one of the big men behind a crystal meth lab in Nederweert. The lab was of historic size. Never before have investigative services in the Netherlands discovered such a large meth lab. 1340 kilos of finished product have been found. That batch of meth alone represents a street value of tens of millions.
Instructor Gianni
Based on chat messages, the judiciary concludes that Gianni gave instructions about the production process. His friend Damien, with whom he would also be involved in the Belgian drug lab, is also ascribed an organizing role. In addition to these two suspects, Maikel L. (28), Frits R. (35) and his uncle Hans R. (51) were arrested.
On June 22, the men will appear in court for the first time in this case. That does not apply to Hans; according to his lawyers Marcel Heuvelmans and Lotna Kleczewski, the police arrested the wrong person. Justice now also doubts his role and decided to release Hans.