The Netherlands Increases Penalties For Hard Drug Crimes To Deter International Gangs
Often considered one of the most liberal countries on drugs, the Netherlands is introducing harsher penalties for drug-related crimes. Justice Minister David van Weel introduced a new bill proposing tougher penalties for various drug offenses, writes Born2Invest.
The changes seek to make the country less attractive to international drug gangs by aligning Dutch penalties with stricter drug laws in neighboring countries such as Germany and Belgium and by providing better security for Dutch citizens.
Proposed penalties for drug-related offenses include:
- Smuggling hard drugs: Maximum sentence raised from 12 to 16 years.
- Trafficking and production of hard drugs: Maximum penalty increased from 8 to 12 years.
- Possession of large quantities of hard drugs: Penalty raised from 6 to 8 years.
“Drug trafficking is a major source of income for …