[jzmtl]

Driver flees Netherlands crash scene, leaving behind 3,000 kilograms of hash
Published: Friday, March 2, 2007 | 5:24 PM ET
Canadian Press


AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) - Close to three tonnes of hashish went up in smoke Friday, incinerated by Dutch authorities after a van carrying the illicit cargo crashed and scattered it across the road.

Detectives were hunting the van's driver and a passenger who fled the scene, leaving behind the wrecked vehicle and its cargo, worth about C$23.5 million. Police spokesman Hielke Vogelzang said police were tracing the owner of the van but that it may be stolen or leased.

The crash happened during the morning commute on a highway outside the town of Avenhorn, about 30 kilometres north of Amsterdam, police said.

Vogelzang said it was unknown whether the vehicle's occupants were injured, but "we're confident we'll catch up to them sooner or later."

Police said the van was heading toward Amsterdam when its driver lost control for unknown reasons. Witnesses saw the van hit a barrier, flip and clip another car before coming to rest. The two occupants got out and fled.

Packages of hash were scattered around the area, local media reported, and Vogelzang said that hundreds more were found stacked on wooden pallets inside the van.

Marijuana and hash are technically illegal in the Netherlands, but under the country's tolerance policy, police do not arrest anybody for possession of small amounts.

It is sold openly in licensed shops, which, paradoxically, have no way of legally acquiring their chief product.

[KMcNaught]

If by "fired" you mean "shot in the back of the head and dumped in a swamp by now" then yes.

[qwik]

how about to stoned to drive