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Dutch magistrate gives police two weeks to question drug dealer over deaths Dutch magistrate gives police two weeks to question drug dealer over deaths
(about 1 hour later)
A Dutch investigating magistrate has given police up to two weeks to question a drug dealer who may have caused the deaths of three British tourists in Amsterdam by selling them white heroin while passing it off as cocaine. A Dutch investigating magistrate has given police two weeks to question a drug dealer who may have caused the deaths of three British tourists in Amsterdam by selling them white heroin while passing it off as cocaine.
A court spokesman said on Tuesday there were enough “serious reservations” about the unnamed 42-year-old man, who handed himself in to a central Amsterdam police station early on Saturday morning, to warrant his detention. A court spokesman said on Tuesday that there were enough “serious reservations” about the unnamed 42-year-old man, who handed himself in to a central Amsterdam police station early on Saturday morning, to warrant his detention.
The suspect’s lawyer, Gerald Roethof, told De Telegraaf his client did not know what drug he was selling. He had “the shock of his life”, Roethof said, when he saw CCTV footage of himself in the media and learned he was wanted in connection with street sales of the drug, which have left 20 other foreign tourists needing emergency medical treatment over the past year. The suspect’s lawyer, Gerald Roethof, told De Telegraaf that his client did not know what drug he was selling. He had “the shock of his life”, Roethof said, when he saw CCTV footage of himself in the media and learned he was wanted in connection with street sales of the drug, which have left 20 other foreign tourists needing emergency medical treatment over the past year.
“He immediately tried to trace his supplier, but was unsuccessful,” the lawyer told the paper. “That’s why he decided to give himself up.” The images, broadcast last month on Dutch television, were recorded on a city-centre street in February on the day that three Danish tourists bought the drug, fell seriously ill, and had to be hospitalised. “He immediately tried to trace his supplier, but was unsuccessful,” the lawyer told the paper. “That’s why he decided to give himself up.”
White heroin, historically produced in the ‘Golden Triangle’ of south-east Asia, is typically both purer and more expensive than brown. It can prove fatal when inhaled, according to a spokeswoman for the Jellinek addiction clinic: “Heroin is a depressant and cocaine a stimulant,” she told Dutch media. The images, broadcast last month on Dutch television, were recorded on a city-centre street in February on the day that three Danish tourists bought the drug, fell seriously ill, and had to be taken to hospital.
White heroin, which is historically produced in the “Golden Triangle” of south-east Asia, is typically both purer and more expensive than brown. It can prove fatal when inhaled, according to a spokeswoman for the Jellinek addiction clinic: “Heroin is a depressant and cocaine a stimulant,” she told Dutch media.
“If people don’t know they are using heroin and lay out a line thinking it’s cocaine, there is a very high chance of overdosing. Their heartbeat and breathing can slow right down. They may fall into a semi-conscious state; they may end up inhaling their vomit; eventually, they may stop breathing and die of respiratory failure. Snorting white heroin can be fatal.”“If people don’t know they are using heroin and lay out a line thinking it’s cocaine, there is a very high chance of overdosing. Their heartbeat and breathing can slow right down. They may fall into a semi-conscious state; they may end up inhaling their vomit; eventually, they may stop breathing and die of respiratory failure. Snorting white heroin can be fatal.”
The bodies of Britons Shaun Brotherston, 20, and Bradley Price, 21, were found in a hotel room in south Amsterdam last November, less than a month after a third 22-year-old British tourist died in similar circumstances. The pair were lying next to a white powder, later identified as white heroin, which police spokesman Rob van der Veen said they had “almost certainly” bought in the belief it was cocaine. The bodies of Britons Shaun Brotherston, 20, and Bradley Price, 21, were found in a hotel room in south Amsterdam last November, less than a month after a third 22-year-old British tourist died in similar circumstances. The pair were lying next to a white powder, later identified as white heroin, which a police spokesman, Rob van der Veen, said they had “almost certainly” bought in the belief it was cocaine.
The deaths and hospitalisations – many patients needed CPR – prompted the city to launch a major public awareness campaign; posters in popular tourist areas, such as the Leidseplein, and English-language flyers in hotels and youth hostels, warned young holidaymakers that people were suffering “severe health problems after using cocaine bought on the street”. The deaths and hospitalisations – many patients needed resuscitation – prompted the city to launch a public awareness campaign. Posters in popular tourist areas, such as the Leidseplein, and English-language flyers in hotels and youth hostels warned young holidaymakers that people were suffering “severe health problems after using cocaine bought on the street”.
Electronic billboards carried stark messages including: “Extremely dangerous white heroin sold to tourists as cocaine,” while the justice ministry offered a €15,000 (£11,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the dealer. Electronic billboards carried stark messages such as “Extremely dangerous white heroin sold to tourists as cocaine”, while the justice ministry offered a €15,000 (£11,000) reward for information leading to the arrest of the dealer.
Defending the campaign, Amsterdam city hall said the city saw “the safety of Amsterdammers, and the many thousands of tourists who visit our city, as our most important responsibility. In this situation, avoiding more victims takes precedence … over any negative impact on the city’s reputation.” Defending the campaign, Amsterdam municipal council said the city saw “the safety of Amsterdammers, and the many thousands of tourists who visit our city, as our most important responsibility. In this situation, avoiding more victims takes precedence … over any negative impact on the city’s reputation.”
Although hard drugs are illegal in the Netherlands, many, particularly young tourists, are drawn to Amsterdam’s famous coffee shops, where the sale of cannabis is tolerated. Although hard drugs are illegal in the Netherlands, many tourists, particularly young visitors, are drawn to Amsterdam’s famous coffee shops, where the sale of cannabis is tolerated.
The city’s mayor, Eberhard van der Laan, also defended a decision in December to allow teams of street workers and “smart shops” to start selling €2 heroin testing kits designed to quickly and clearly show the presence of heroin in drugs. “Not to do anything – that would be bad for the city,” he said.The city’s mayor, Eberhard van der Laan, also defended a decision in December to allow teams of street workers and “smart shops” to start selling €2 heroin testing kits designed to quickly and clearly show the presence of heroin in drugs. “Not to do anything – that would be bad for the city,” he said.