The Netherlands - Police and justice officials intend to tackle soft drugs gangs just as rigorously as they do those distributing hard drugs.

Until now, the authorities have limited themselves to tracking down and destroying cannabis plantations.

But now it has become apparent that organised crime is also heavily involved in cannabis cultivation.

Major criminals, who deal in hard drugs, weapons and human trafficking now also employ a whole network of cannabis growers.

Ninety percent of the cannabis they produce is exported, and earns enormous amounts of money.

Justice officials says they intend to try to seize this money, and that they will employ methods similar to those they use with hard drug dealers, such as undercover drug purchases, to arrest the criminals.
 
Radio Netherlands/Expatica