Dutch Police Seize Leprechaun Statue Packed with Ecstasy

The Dutch police, through an anti-drug raid, seized a figure of a gnome weighing approximately 2 kilograms made from handmade drugs in the garden of a home in Dongemond, Netherlands, last Saturday, November 22.

The peculiar discovery left law enforcement officers stunned, as they did not imagine that the doll would contain narcotics. After the confiscation, they published a brief message on their official account on X: “We are aware that illicit substances come in many shapes and sizes, but from time to time we come across something special.”

The authority also added on the social network how they examined the doll, even though it appeared to be made of stone: “It is a strange place to keep your garden gnome, so we decided to test it for possible narcotics.” ”.

Their assumptions turned out to be completely correct, as they discovered that the statue, which weighed almost 2 kilos, was made entirely of MDMA. “The gnome himself was obviously surprised,” the Netherlands Police joke at the end, alluding to the expression presented by the figure of the garden gnome, who covers his mouth with both hands.

What is MDMA?

MDMA, also known as molly, M or ecstasy, among many other terms, is a synthetic laboratory substance that produces effects similar to those of stimulants such as methamphetamine. However, some studies and organizations classify it as a psychedelic drug, since it can also slightly alter visual and temporal perception, according to the United States National Institute on Drug Abuse. The effects of MDMA may include increased energy, increased alertness, and a heightened sense of well-being, warmth, and greater connection with others. However, MDMA can also cause undesirable and potentially dangerous negative effects on health.

MDMA consumption prohibited in most nations

Possession of MDMA (ecstasy) began to be banned globally as governments began classifying it as a controlled substance due to its health risks and potential for abuse:

United States (1985):
MDMA was classified as a Schedule I drug (drugs with high potential for abuse and no accepted medical use) by the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 1985. This was a key step in the banning of the substance in many countries, since many international legislations follow the DEA guidelines.

1. United Nations Convention on Narcotic Drugs (1988):
   In 1988, the United Nations Convention against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances included MDMA in its list of controlled substances, leading many countries to adopt similar laws to prohibit its possession, distribution and manufacture.
2. Europe (late 80s and early 90s):
   In many European countries, MDMA became illegal in the 1990s as it became popular in rave and electronic party culture. For example, MDMA was classified as a controlled substance in the United Kingdom in 1997, although measures were taken in other countries in the region in previous years.
3. Australia (1988):
   Australia also banned MDMA in the late 1980s after recreational use became widespread.

Since then, most countries in the world have established laws prohibiting the possession, manufacture, and distribution of MDMA, although some places have considered exceptions for its use in scientific or therapeutic research (for example, in the treatment of mental disorders). of post-traumatic stress).

Although MDMA is widely banned, there has been renewed interest in its potential therapeutic use in recent years. Some clinical studies have investigated its use in treatments for disorders such as post-traumatic stress and depression, which has led to a debate about its legalization in certain medical contexts. However, in most countries it remains illegal for recreational use.

However, the United Nations (UN) estimated in 2020 that around 20 million people, mostly from the United States and Europe, had consumed it at least once at the beginning of that year.

Note for: David Josue Quispe Franco.