Police have arrested four men on suspicion of involvement in a criminal organisation and drugs law offences after a train cleaner died from drinking a bottle containing liquid MDMA.

The incident took place in July 2024 at a siding near Utrecht Centraal, where trains are parked for cleaning. A 49-year-old cleaner from Amsterdam died after drinking from the bottle after finishing his shift, while his 63-year-old colleague from Utrecht also became unwell after taking a sip.

In a second incident in December last year, a 46-year-old man became unwell after drinking a beverage which, police later established, also contained liquid MDMA. He has suffered serious permanent injuries.

The investigation into the two mysteries has now led to the arrests. The suspects are from Rotterdam and Capelle aan den IJssel. One of them had already been arrested in September last year in connection with the cleaner’s death and had turned himself in after an television crime show appeal.