A Dutch commando who was last year awarded the Netherlands’ highest military honour for his work in Afghanistan, is to be charged with possession of hard drugs and supplying weapons.

The public prosecution department said Marco Kroon will be charged with ‘possession and supply of several electric shock weapons and possession of a small amount of hard drugs for his own use’. There is no evidence he is involved in drugs trading, the department said in a statement.
Allegations were first made against Kroon earlier this year. The claims centre on a cafe in Den Bosch which Kroon runs together with a friend. The cafe has been under police surveillance for several months.
Kroon, who has always denied the allegations, will appear in court on November 29.
Queen
Kroon was awarded the Willem’s Order cross by queen Beatrix in 2009. It is the first time in 54 years the medal has been awarded to an individual soldier, the defence ministry said.
His lawyer Geert-Jan Knoops told the Telegraaf the files do not contain enough evidence that Kroon had hard drugs and that the electric shock weapons were three mobile phones which had been adapted.
‘One he gave to his girlfriend and two to his brother. Marco did not know they fall under fire arms legislation,’ Knoops said.