India is an important link in the designer drugs trade: FTM

Dutch companies bought designer drugs and related chemicals from India with a street value of what could be as much as €2 billion in the six years to 2025, according to an investigation by broadcaster NOS and website Follow The Money.

The researchers base their claim on an analysis of export documents covering trade between India and the Netherlands, conversations with police and forensic experts and other officials, as well as interviews with people operating in every part of the chain.

The researchers tracked down over 700 orders for raw materials to make drugs, ready-to-sell narcotics, and chemicals to cut drugs. They were brought into the country by 30 companies, some of which were individual webshops and some of which operated as wholesalers.

The buyers paid €46 million for the chemicals, over the six years.

Designer drugs are not illegal if they are not included in the Opium list of banned substances. They do, however, usually mimic existing banned drugs and differ from them only slightly in chemical terms.

FTM and NOS also spoke to companies in India which would make designer drugs to order by changing the chemical formula of a banned drug slightly to get round the Dutch law.

In April, the Dutch product safety board closed down 43 websites which were offering designer drugs, but drugs industry insiders told the researchers that the closures have little impact. Many continue to operate via websites based outside the Netherlands and are advertised via closed online channels.

The police told the researchers they are aware of the India route, describing it as an “important source country” for the Netherlands when it comes to combating the trade. “More and more fake medicine is also being sent from India to Europe and the Netherlands,” the spokesman said.

The public prosecution department is currently investigating 58 deaths which may be linked to illegal drugs webshop Funcaps. The website’s two owners were arrested last August.