In the Netherlands, drug crime leaves a toxic trail on the environment

For years now, Dutch authorities have been regularly dismantling illegal drug labs producing amphetamines, ecstasy and cocaine – often hidden away in remote, rural areas. But one of the lesser-known consequences of this illegal industry is the severe environmental pollution it leaves behind. Barrels filled with hazardous substances are frequently dumped in forests, fields and even protected nature reserves. Last year alone, 217 illegal dumping sites were discovered across the country. FRANCE 24’s Ingrid Gercama and Alix Le Bourdon report.