Netherlands authorities seize ketamine worth €55m in large bust

Dutch police have made their largest ever ketamine seizure, uncovering a stash worth tens of millions of euros. Two tonnes of the drug were found hidden in boxes in a shed in Googweg, Muiderberg. A 55-year-old man living on the premises was arrested. While ketamine is not illegal in the Netherlands, trading and storing it without registration is prohibited. The haul has an estimated street value of almost €55m. Alongside the ketamine, a supply of hard drugs was also discovered and destroyed. The police claim that ketamine trade often involves other crimes, such as money laundering and possession of weapons. The Netherlands is a hub for the drug trade due to its transport network, lenient drug laws, and proximity to lucrative markets. Ketamine, known as a "party drug," can cause serious harm and even be fatal. It is also used as an anaesthetic, sedative, pain reliever, and on animals. In some countries, it can be prescribed off-license for depression.