Drug Offense Prosecutions in The Netherlands, 2011

"The next phase in the criminal justice chain is the Public Prosecutor. Note that a police report is a different administrative unit than a case registration of the Public Prosecutor.
"• In 2011 the number of Opium Act cases increased compared to 2010, especially soft drug cases. The increase is substantial.
"• The percentage of soft drug cases increased in 2011, while that of hard drug cases decreased. More than half of the cases (53%) concerns soft drugs now.
"• The majority of the Opium Act cases (60%) concerns production, trafficking or dealing of drugs, 40% concerns possession of drugs (not in table). It is not known from the figures what the quantity of drugs was in the cases of ‘possession of drugs’. The general guideline for prosecution states that, if possession concerns ‘small amounts for own use’ police dismissal or prosecution aimed at diversion to care can follow. The drugs will always be seized. But if someone possesses more of a drug than the small amount that is considered ‘for own use’ – and which might be meant for dealing – or if there is also another, more serious offence involved, arrest and prosecution are the rule. The available data do not allow a distinction between possession of small amounts for personal use or larger amounts which might be meant for supply.
"• In cases of hard drugs, 44% concerns production or trafficking and 46% concerns possession of hard drugs in 2011 (not in table). For soft drugs, these fractions are different: 74% concerns production or trafficking and 26% possession (not in table).
"• The percentage of Opium Act cases of all cases in 2011 is 7.6%. This is the first increase since 2005."