[420 Girl]

Brussels -Dutch criminals are setting up cannabis farms ever deeper into Flanders. They are trying in that way to reduce the chance of being caught.

The police are discovering more and more cannabis farms in our country. Last year, 480 farms were dismantled; a doubling compared with 2006 and nearly 10 times more than in 2004. "There are more farms, and we are searching better," so Michel Willekens, chief inspector of the Central Drugs Service with the federal police, the staggering increase.

The Flemish borderland with the Netherlands is still the area of activity par excellence. The judicial district of Tongeren beats them all with 101 farms, followed by Antwerp (50), Turnhout (47), Hasselt (33), and Gent (32). The cannabis fighters are also achieving success in 2008. Up to mid August, 283 farms were already closed down.

Willekens is convinced that more farms are being set up in Belgium. "In the Netherlands, there are over 300 growing shops, where you will find everything for setting up a farm. In Tilburg alone, there are 13," he says. "That is barely 20 km from Turnhout. Some growing shops operate with leasing contracts, and come and install everything themselves. In return, you have to hand over the first crop free of charge, and they make 10 per cent on the following crops."

It is striking that cannabis growing has extended to the interior over the past few years. Last year, the police also dismantled farms in, among other places, Tervuren, Veurne, and Aarlen. "The criminal organizations wish to reduce the chance of being caught," Professor Brice De Ruyver says. "The police forces in the borderland have specialized in the matter. Moreover, they know the ringleaders."

The link with the Netherlands remains. "In 90 per cent of the dismantled farms, the connection is clear. Northern neighbours have supplied the equipment, leased the premises, or involved middlemen. The crop is intended almost exclusively for Dutch coffee shops," De Ruyver says.

According to chief inspector Willekens, it is unclear whether the federal police are winning the battle. "We are achieving results, but are we closing down farms really systematically, or are many still slipping through the net? We have no idea," he says.

Originally published by De Standaard website, Groot-Bijgaarden, in Dutch 8 Oct 08.

http://www.420magazine.com/forums/in...ng-inland.html