It will appear in various places in the province in the near future: the so-called subversion container. In this container, Jos Warmerdam of Bureau Drugszaken in Drenten shows how the production of hemp and synthetic drugs, such as amphetamine and MDMA, works.
Normally Warmerdam only provides training to professionals, but nowadays also to citizens. It is very important that they learn to recognize the signals of different types of drug production, he says. “It occurs everywhere, not only in Brabant, also certainly in Drenthe. And by making citizens alert, drug criminals can be traced more quickly.”
A cannabis farm, a synthetic drug lab and a cocaine laundry have been recreated in the container. “We do this so that people know what to look out for,” explains Warmerdam. “For example, we show what materials criminals use. And what kind of behavior goes with it.”
For example, there are bags of perlite and kegs that are often used at hemp cutting plants. “And we let the people smell it, then they recognize the real drug smells.” For example, think of acetone, a odor that is often released in a cocaine laundry.
The submersible container has so far been located in three places in Drenthe: in the municipalities of Westerveld, De Wolden and Meppel. The other municipalities in Drenthe will also be discussed.
According to Warmerdam, many people in the province wonder whether this is really necessary here. “That’s exactly why it’s good that we come,” he responds. “To create awareness. So that people will realize that it is really necessary.”