Police have closed down many illegal cannabis plantations, but they hardly ever investigate who is making money from them. That is the conclusion of an investigation by the Brabant detective force into organised crime in the cannabis trade in six police regions in the south of the Netherlands. The result are confirmed by public prosecutor Gerrit van de Burg in Den Bosch, who heads the national task force for the fight against cannabis plantations. In 2004, the Dutch government announced a crackdown on organised crime in the cannabis cultivation sector. It was to be a concerted effort by police, local authorities, housing associations and energy companies. But according to detective Stephan van Nimwegen, who headed the investigation, police departments still give cannabis plantations low priority compared with murder, robbery or hard drugs investigations. Van Nimwegen said closing down cannabis plantations was "fighting the symptoms".
Police have closed down many illegal cannabis plantations, but they hardly ever investigate who is making money from them. That is the conclusion of an investigation by the Brabant detective force into organised crime in the cannabis trade in six police regions in the south of the Netherlands.
The result are confirmed by public prosecutor Gerrit van de Burg in Den Bosch, who heads the national task force for the fight against cannabis plantations.
In 2004, the Dutch government announced a crackdown on organised crime in the cannabis cultivation sector. It was to be a concerted effort by police, local authorities, housing associations and energy companies.
But according to detective Stephan van Nimwegen, who headed the investigation, police departments still give cannabis plantations low priority compared with murder, robbery or hard drugs investigations.
Van Nimwegen said closing down cannabis plantations was "fighting the symptoms".
It's also cowardly.
Legalise and tax it (and outlaw skunk) keep to the Fen Causeway
police departments still give cannabis plantations low priority compared with murder, robbery or hard drugs investigations.
I should think so too.
