Netherlands: drug-related violence spreads to villages?
Around 30 masked men, some of whom were heavily armed, marched through the Dutch village of Overasselt early on Tuesday morning before attacking a property. One man was killed and two police officers were seriously injured amid gunfire. The incident has sparked a debate about escalating drug-related violence. The Dutch press calls for action - and also holds drug users to account.
Users also to blame
For De Telegraaf, drug users also bear responsibility for the situation:
“The fight against organised crime must remain a priority. ... Incidentally, the problem is not just the drug supply, but also the demand. As long as the use of illegal drugs is regarded as normal by large sections of society, a market will continue to exist that criminals are keen to exploit. After all, the taboo surrounding drug use has become a taboo against addressing others about their drug use. It's time things changed on that front, too.”
Change of course needed in narco-state
According to NRC, this kind of violence has become common in the country in recent years:
“The stranglehold that serious crime has on society in Western Europe is particularly pronounced in the Netherlands. ... Whether it is a 'narco-state' or not, the events in Overasselt show that the calls by Amsterdam Mayor Femke Halsema for a radical change of course remain as relevant as ever. We can no longer look the other way. To bring about a genuine change of course, an open debate about the Dutch drugs economy – and by extension about the consumer side of it – is inevitable.”