Police in Netherlands Uncover Garden Gnome Made of MDMA

Law enforcement officers in the southern region of the Netherlands have reported the discovery of a garden gnome, weighing nearly 2kg (4lb), which was composed entirely of the illicit substance MDMA. “Drugs appear in many shapes and sizes, but every now and then we come across special things,” stated the Dongemond Police in a translated social media update. The discovery of the gnome occurred amidst other suspected narcotics during an extensive drug search. The police force commented, “In itself a strange place to keep your garden gnome,” adding, “That’s why we decided to test [it] for narcotics.” “The gnome himself was visibly startled,” police noted, describing the garden ornament with its hands positioned over its mouth. The specific location where the gnome was recovered has not been disclosed, however, the Dongemond Police jurisdiction encompasses the municipalities of Oosterhout, Geertruidenberg, Drimmelen, and Altena. MDMA, classified as an illegal substance within the Netherlands, is recognized as a synthetic party drug, commonly referred to as ecstasy. As of 2019, the Netherlands ranked among the foremost global producers of MDMA. This incident is not an isolated occurrence of attempts to conceal the drug using unconventional methods. In the previous year, a man from Scotland received a prison sentence exceeding four years for his attempt to smuggle MDMA valued at over £84,000 into the country, concealed within cat food. Additionally, a man from Leeds had previously faced charges concerning a scheme to import 90kg (198lb) of the drug into the UK, hidden inside pallets containing frozen chicken. Copyright 2024 BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC bears no responsibility for the content found on external websites. Information regarding our policy on external linking is available.