Focusing on the historical and cultural evolution of the Netherlands, the book explores how it became a pivotal center for the global illegal drug trade in the 20th century. It introduces the concept of 'criminal anarchy,' illustrating how this phenomenon is deeply rooted in Dutch society. By analyzing the shortcomings of regulatory policies and law enforcement, the narrative reveals the complex interplay between societal norms and the drug trade's persistence.
Why did the international drug regulatory regime of the twentieth century fail to stop an explosive increase in trade and consumption of illegal drugs? This book investigates the histories of smugglers and criminal entrepreneurs in the Netherlands who succeeded in turning the country into the so-called ‘Colombia of Europe’.Increasing state regulations and interventions led to the proliferation of a ‘hydra’ of small, anarchic groups and networks ideally suited to circumvent the enforcement of regulation. Smugglers and suppliers of heroin, cocaine, cannabis, and other drugs created a thriving underground industry of illegal synthetic drug labs and indoor cannabis cultivation in the Netherlands itself, made possible because of the embedded criminal anarchy in Dutch society.Using examples from the rich history of drug smuggling, Drug smuggler nation investigates the hidden grounds of the illegal drug trade, and its effects on our drug policies.