WEERT - Justice suspects that members of the Moluccan motorcycle club Satudarah obtained raw materials for making and exporting synthetic drugs through a group of Lithuanians from Weert.

Sources report. Last November 30, eight men were arrested on that suspicion and the national criminal investigation department conducted raids inWeert, Ospel, Tilburg, Breda and Eindhoven, among other places. Among the suspects are three members of the Moluccan motorcycle club Satudarah in Tilburg. Their clubhouse was also raided. A week after that police action, Satudarah leader M.S. from Maastricht was also arrested as the ninth suspect. He is suspected of having been involved in a failed transport of 10,000 ecstasy and amphetamine pills toIndonesia. M.S. allegedly arranged that deal together with his relative A.M., a member of Satudarah in Tilburg. A.M. is suspected by the Public Prosecutor (OM) of having been the leader of a criminal organization involved in the production and trafficking of synthetic drugs. Many members of that criminal syndicate were also allegedly members of Satudarah. Justice assumes that "the higher up the ranks within the motorcycle club, the less risk there is to be run.

Spokesman Wim de Bruin of the National Prosecutor's Office emphasizes that Satudarah as a club is not a suspect. He would not comment on whether there are nevertheless indications that the motorcycle club was engaged in criminal activities. One of the eight suspects-a Lithuanian-has since been released, confirms attorney Serge Weening, who does not wish to comment on the substance of the case.

The defendant(s) in this case are assisted by: