Public Prosecution Service demands up to 7 years in prison on appeal in drug case involving civilian infiltrator
February 11, 2024
On Friday, the Public Prosecution Service demanded prison sentences of up to seven years against thirteen suspects in the international drug case Vidar. The Public Prosecution Service accuses them of participating in a criminal organization, exporting 86 kilos of amphetamine to Finland and making preparations for the export of 30 kilos of amphetamine to Denmark and 300 kilos of cocaine to Australia. They are also accused of money laundering and possession of weapons. A total of fourteen suspects are on trial on appeal. The sentence against one suspect is expected on February 19.
On April 20, 2018, the police and the judiciary started an investigation into the possible involvement of members of the Hells Angels North Coast in Harlingen in the international trade in hard drugs. The investigation started with a suspicion against a member of the Red Devils Leeuwarden, a support club of the Hells Angels. The main question in the research was whether or not members of Hells Angels in the Northern Netherlands are involved in international drug trafficking. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the investigation shows that the prosecuted members are indeed suspected of this.
The case received a lot of publicity because the police deployed a criminal civilian infiltrator . In August 2022, the Northern Netherlands court ruled that the use of a criminal civilian infiltrator in the Vidar drugs case is lawful .
Due to the efforts of the criminal civilian infiltrator and the many statements he made, it was ultimately demonstrated that a prominent member of Hells Angels Harlingen was involved in the international drug trade and that a member of Hells Angels Finland participated in the criminal organization that promoted the drug trade. and transferred sums of money from Finland to the Netherlands. The Finn was sentenced to eleven years in prison in his home country in July 2020 for smuggling 86 kilos of speed from the Netherlands.
In August 2022, the court convicted fifteen suspects for the export of large quantities of hard drugs, money laundering, participation in a criminal organization and possession of weapons. Five suspects have been acquitted. The sentences imposed by the court range from 80 hours of community service to seven years in prison.
A total of fourteen suspects are on appeal. Twelve suspects appealed after their convictions, and the Public Prosecution Service appealed against two acquittals.
