Over the past three years, 17 people let out of jail on bail ahead of their trial have disappeared, the public prosecution department has confirmed.

The Telegraaf reported on Friday that the 17 who vanished left a total of €763,000 in bail behind them. Bail is not traditionally part of the Dutch legal system but has become more popular in recent years. In 2014, 56 people were released on bail but that had doubled two years later, the paper said.

In April it emerged that one of the Netherlands most notorious drugs barons had disappeared after associates handed over €500,000 to keep him out of custody.

The public prosecution department says it thinks Ceti G cut off his electronic tag and fled the country.

An additional problem with the bail system in the Netherlands is that officials do not check the course of the money, the Telegraaf said.