Dutch man reports theft of Ecstasy pill collection

AMSTERDAM – A man who said he spent two decades collecting Ecstasy pills of all colors and shapes as a hobby has turned to police for help after they were stolen — because he said some of them are poisonous.

Police say the 46-year-old man, who was not identified, decided to report the theft despite the illegal nature of the collection because he was worried about the possible consequences if anybody were to swallow one of the poisoned pills.

It was not immediately clear why about 40 red-and-white pills out of the 2,400-pill-strong collection would be poisoned, but the police said they fear the drugs could be lethal if swallowed.

"That's really the main reason he came to the police," said police spokeswoman Esther Naber, adding the man "knows he's not going to get his collection back."

A report in De Volkskrant daily Thursday said the man claimed he was not a drug dealer or user.

"I've tried it before but didn't like it," the report quoted him saying. "My passion for collecting comes from the varied collection of colors, shapes and logos that are printed on the pills."

According to a police statement, the man gathered the pills over a 20 year period and carefully stored them in coin collecting folders.

The folders were allegedly taken during a break-in Wednesday at the man's home in Eerbeek, 56 miles (90 kilometers) east of Amsterdam.

Police spokesman Naber said investigators tended to believe the man's story.

"Why would you make something like this up?" she said.

Prosecutors and drug enforcement officials are still weighing whether to charge him with a crime.

"Given that the pills have disappeared, for the moment there's no evidence to support a possession charge," Naber said.

The pills' street value is estimated at euro11,000 ($16,200).

This takes the cake. now i have heard it all.

Who in their ever lovin mind collect these??? and don't they expire? what happens when they do???

Oh my...I don't even know what to say.

I collect coffee mugs from all over...but this is just a tad crazy...even for me

He hopes no one takes them, especially the "possibly poison" ones? What the heck does he think they took them for? Either to ingest them, sell them, or both.

it would have been much better and cheaper to collect coffee mugs and legal too.

I don't know, they have some pretty wacky laws now, something like a heavy mug could be considered a deadly weapon, if ya got good aim...just sayin.

Anyone want to buy some ecstasy pills,I have all colours and shapes....I will take $16,200 for the lot

I would NEVER ruin my collection as a weapon. There are plenty of other things around the house for that

But seriously...wtf was this guy collecting them for???? a museum??? The history of Ecstacy?


tomohawk....if I turn you in...imagine the reward I'd get lol

I have 40 special red and white ones for people who like running to the police with tip offs

I can spot a tic tac a mile away tomohawk

Umm...did anyone else miss the part where he says some of them are poisoned? I thought he said he didn't take them or deal them...and if he's still alive, then HE didn't take them...so HOW does he know those certain ones are poison?

good question. what exactly happens when they expire? and what is the purpose in collecting them?? Is this a new studly thing?

Most pills just lose the strength when the get old. but why anyone would collect them is crazy. i would bet he is a dealer but why would he call the police even if they found them they would not give them back.

I don't know, it kind of turns me on...not, not, NOT!

I mean, his explanation is plausible, but, wtf?

"Given that the pills have disappeared, for the moment there's no evidence to support a possession charge," Naber said.

I understand this...but kinda funny too

Well supposedly he is worried about someone getting "poisoned" by some of them. IF someone does, do you really think they are going to go to the hospital and contact the police and say it was something illegal that they took, and that they got it from this guy's house that they robbed? I don't see it happening.