The court in Arnhem on Monday sentenced three men to prison sentences ranging from 4.5 years to seven years for drug trafficking, money laundering and weapons possession. At the end of 2021, a large drug lab was dismantled in the Nijmegen region of 61-year-old Berry K. from Afferden (Gelderland).
(Image from archive)
The court considers it proven that the three men were the users of one or more accounts of the crypto communications services EncroChat and SkyECC. Through these accounts, the men frequently spoke about the trade in hard and soft drugs and the trade in ketamine.
Coke and hash
Based on the messages, the court finds it proven that Berry K. and 49-year-old P. van A. from Cuijk sold 23 kilos of cocaine together in June 2020. They were also found guilty of possessing and selling hashish. K. was also guilty of producing amphetamine oil. He did this together with others in a drug lab in the Gelderland village of Beusichem between October 1, 2019 and April 14, 2020.
Ketamine and amphetamine oil
Furthermore, the main suspect from Afferden was, among other things, involved in preparatory actions for the production of drugs by supplying and having raw materials available and he also sold amphetamine oil. Berry K. and 40-year-old Angelino H. from Groesbeek were also convicted of dealing in large quantities of ketamine. In addition, according to the court, the Groesbeek resident is guilty of taking preparatory actions for the production of (meth)amphetamine.
According to the court, the trio was also guilty of weapons possession. Two pistols and a rifle were found with them.
Luxury goods
The court further convicted the man from Cuijk for laundering more than 100,000 euros by concealing the location of that money in his extractor hood. According to the court, the man was also guilty of habitual money laundering (money laundering over a long period) for more than 1.5 years. The money was used to buy luxury goods, such as expensive cars and jewelry, three Rolexes, iPhones and Louis Vuitton sunglasses.
Prison sentences
The court takes its own financial gain into account when determining the sentence. 61-year-old Berry K. gets seven years in prison. 40-year-old Angelino H. and 49-year-old P. van A. each have to serve 4.5 years in prison. The suspects were sentenced to nine and five years in prison respectively.
2.5 tons
The court estimates P. van A.’s criminal profits at more than 250,000 euros. He must pay this confiscation amount to the state. Angelino H. will also be fined 6,500 euros. The court will rule on the confiscation claim against Berry K. at a later date.
