The Netherlands and synthetic drugs

An inconvenient truth

Pieter Tops, Judith van Valkenhoef Valkenhoef, Edward van der Torre, Luuk van Spijk

• Publisher: Eleven International Publishing
• Year: 2018
• Topic: Social Sciences
• eBook ISBN:
  9789462749283
• Subtopic: Criminology
• Index: Social Sciences

The Netherlands is a large producer and trader of synthetic drugs (notably XTC and amphetamines). In fact, Dutch criminals are global leaders in the synthetic drugs industry, with distribution networks and commercial activities across the world. It is a multi-billion business forming a shadow economy that is immensely attractive to many people. This book describes why the Netherlands has become and – barring drastic action by the Dutch government – will remain such a big player in synthetic drugs.
This is an abridged account of another Boom criminologie publication entitled Waar een klein land groot in kan zijn. Nederland en synthetische drugs in de afgelopen 50 jaar. ( A small country punching above its weight. The Netherlands and synthetic drugs in the past 50 years ). The aim of the authors is to make a contribution to the national and international debate about drugs, drugs crime and the anti-drugs efforts.

Table of contents

• Contents
• Introduction
• A brief history
• The criminal world of synthetic drugs
• And the government
• Why the Netherlands?
• The twelve most important findings