Netherlands to send Patriot missiles to Ukraine,says Defense Minister
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The Netherlands will send patriot missiles to Ukraine,Defence minister Kajsa Ollongren announced on Friday.This is in response to a request from Ukraine for additional air defence systems.
“Ukraine is in dire need of air defence,” Ollongren said in a statement. “Russia is intensifying its attacks,and we must do everything we can to help Ukraine protect its population and infrastructure.”
The exact number of Patriot missiles being sent has not been disclosed, but it is understood to be a significant contribution. The Netherlands already supplied Ukraine with two Patriot launchers earlier this year. These launchers are operated by German soldiers.
The decision to send more missiles comes as Russia has stepped up its attacks on Ukrainian cities, particularly targeting energy infrastructure. Ukraine has repeatedly called on its allies to provide more air defence systems to counter these attacks.
Ollongren emphasized that the Netherlands is committed to supporting Ukraine for provided that it takes.”We stand with Ukraine in its fight for freedom and sovereignty,” she said.
The delivery of the missiles is expected to take place in the coming weeks. The Netherlands is working closely with its allies to ensure that the missiles are delivered as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Bas de Vries is an editor for Research at NOS. He can be identified by his photo, which shows a man with short brown hair and a light-colored shirt.
Dutch Police Crack Down on Online Drug Network Selling Cocaine, Ketamine, and Fentanyl Analogs
The Hague, Netherlands – December 15, 2023 – Dutch authorities have dismantled a significant online drug operation, “Slaap Pills.net” (Sleep Pills.net), that trafficked in a wide range of illicit substances, including cocaine, ketamine, oxycodone, and dangerous fentanyl analogs like nitazene. Two men, aged 33 and 28, are currently in custody, suspected of running the operation which utilized the Dutch postal service, PostNL, for distribution.The inquiry was triggered by the death of a woman who had purchased substances from the website.
Operation and Suspects
The operation, as reported by the Dutch public broadcaster NOS, involved ordering drugs through the website and having them delivered via PostNL. The 33-year-old suspect, a former employee of the postal company, allegedly exploited his position to divert parcels directly to the sorting center, bypassing standard security checks. The 28-year-old suspect is accused of managing stock and handling orders from a location in Breda. Authorities seized “gigantic quantities” – hundreds of thousands of pills – along with 300 kilograms of cocaine from the 28-year-old’s residence.
Connection to a Fatal Overdose
The investigation began following the death of a woman who had purchased drugs from Slaap Pills.net. While a dangerous nitazene analog was found in her system, prosecutors have stated they cannot definitively link her death to the website. According to the Public Prosecution Service, the victim had also ordered from other online sources, making it challenging to establish a direct causal link. AD reported on this aspect of the case.
Pre-trial Detention and Warnings
The judge has denied bail to both suspects, citing the seriousness of the charges and the substantial evidence collected, including the large quantity of cocaine found at the 28-year-old’s home. Both men have been in custody since late September.
Authorities are using this case to warn the public about the dangers of purchasing medication and drugs from unregulated online pharmacies. “If you order medicines online off the beaten track, you don’t know what you’re buying, what you’re taking or what the consequences might potentially be,” a police spokesperson stated, as reported by NOS.
The Rise of Online Drug Markets
The case highlights the growing problem of online drug trafficking, where illicit substances are readily available through websites ofen disguised as legitimate online pharmacies. These sites frequently offer prescription medications without requiring a valid prescription,and increasingly,they are selling dangerous synthetic opioids like nitazenes,which are significantly more potent than fentanyl and pose a severe risk of overdose. The use of services like iDEAL (a popular Dutch online payment system) and established postal services further complicates efforts to combat these operations.
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