The Public Prosecution Service (OM) has demanded prison sentences up to 9.5 years against five men from Groningen and Friesland for involvement in Drug Labs in Bovensmilde, Hellum and Nieuw-Beerta in 2022 and 2023. Members of the gang are also prosecuted for money laundering and involvement in imports and act in heavy illegal fireworks and hennep.
The police tracked down the gang when a cocaine washing house on the Hoofdweg in Nieuw-Beerta was discovered in November 2022. 550 kilos of a material was found there that contains cocaine. A production site of the largest category established researchers.
During a large-scale study in which phones were drained, a 27-year-old man from ‘t Zandt and his 67-year-old father, two 54-year-old men from Groningen and a 32-year-old man from Surhuisterveen came into the picture.
On October 10, 2023, the rings were then made at several places in Drenthe, Groningen and Friesland. The agents found chemicals with which drugs can be made at a number of locations. In the drug lab in Hellum, 26 kilos of amphetamine (MDMA) produced was discovered.
In a farm on the Hoofdweg in Bovensmilde, agents found a drug lab under construction, including spaces where chefs could work and sleep. In addition, the police found more than 1,650 kilos of fireworks in Groningen. The police also intercepted a party of more than 80 kilos of hemp from Canada, hidden in a container with table tops.
According to the OM it is not about “an experiment”, but there was “great ambition” of the suspects to have several locations under management where hard drugs could be produced. They negotiate with several parties where they could set up the drug labs ready -made to get “quickly rich”.
The men often relied on their right to remain silent in the court of Groningen. When the court asked who the people were who had approached suspects or why certain things were present at a location, an answer was not forthcoming.
The 27-year-old suspect, who is seen by the Public Prosecution Service as ‘the engine block’ of the criminal organization, stated that he was approached to arrange locations. He would not have known that hard drugs were then produced. “I understood that it wasn’t completely pure coffee. But I only knew what happened afterwards.” When running the drug lab, he said he was “absolutely not” involved.
According to the OM that is unbelievable and his role is greater. The highest requirement sounded to him: 9.5 years in prison. When it comes to the location in Nieuw-Beerta, the public prosecutor said: “He was actively involved in the laundry until the day of the raid. He must have known about the hat and the edge.”
According to the OM there is talk of co -perpetration in the production process. He would also have had the ambition to cook drugs himself, together with his father, in order to be able to do everything in -house, it says.
Together with the 54-year-old Groninger, the 27-year-old suspect, just like a 32-year-old man from Surhuisterveen, was involved in the preparation of the other labs. According to the OM they were also the three core members of the organization. 7.5 years and 6 years in prison respectively were demanded against them.
“Several places were set up to spread risks when a lab was discovered,” said the public prosecutor. The trade in hemp and heavily illegal fireworks, which was imported from Germany, had to provide extra income.
“In all their activities, suspects did not care about the risks and consequences,” said the public prosecutor. “They only had an eye for financial gain. They worked together to quickly earn a lot of money for a carefree life. If something failed, a lab was rolled up and they just continued.”
The other 54-year-old Groninger played a supporting role according to the OM, by constructing electricity in one of the labs and transporting large amounts of fireworks from Germany. The Public Prosecution Service is also seen as supportive by the Public Prosecution Service. For example, he would have been helpful in the criminal activities of his son in all sorts of ways. 15 months in prison, 5 of which were conditional, and 30 months in jail were demanded against them.
The lawyers still argue on 2 June. The court will rule on 27 June.