THE NETHERLANDS HAD FEW DRUG PROBLEMS UNTIL MARKETS FOR MARIHUANA AND HASHISH DEVELOPED IN 1965; HEROIN AND DRUG CRIMES WERE VIRTUALLY UNKNOWN UNTIL 1970. WHEN THE CHINESE DRUG SUPPLIERS SOUGHT A MARKET TO REPLACE VIETNAM IN THE EARLY SEVENTIES, THEY CHOSE HOLLAND BECAUSE OF ITS FAVORABLE GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION, ITS PORTS, ITS OPEN SOUTHERN BORDER, ITS TOLERANT POPULATION, ITS POSITION AS A MEETING PLACE FOR YOUTH, ITS LARGE CHINESE POPULATION, AND ITS POORLY COORDINATED POLICE, WITH LOCAL AND NATIONAL POLICE OPERATING INDEPENDENTLY. OTHER DUTCH AGENCIES LATER RESPONSIBLE FOR FIGHTING DRUGS BECAME CUSTOMS, THE ROYAL GENDARMERIE, AND THE CENTRAL INFORMATION OFFICE OF THE CRIMINAL POLICE, WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR COLLECTING, COORDINATING, AND DISTRIBUTING INTERNATIONAL DRUG INFORMATION. THE POLICE, KNOWING LITTLE ABOUT DRUGS, HAS HAD TO GATHER INFORMATION ABOUT SUPPLIER COUNTRIES, ESTABLISH 2-WEEK COURSES IN COMBATTING DRUG CRIME, AND HIRE MORE DRUG SPECIALISTS. THE CENTRAL OFFICE FOR DRUGS NOW MAINTAINS A DOCUMENTATION SECTION, INFORMATION SERVICES WHICH ANALYZE INTELLIGENCE, A DIVISION OF CONTACT OFFICERS, AND A DIVISION OF DRUG OFFICER SPECIALISTS FROM OTHER AGENCIES OR COUNTRIES. THE GOVERNMENT HAS CHANGED THE DRUG LAWS TO DIFFERENTIATE PENALTIES FOR MINOR USERS AND MAJOR DEALERS AND FOR HARD-DRUG AND SOFT-DRUG USE, AS WELL AS TO REQUIRE THAT ADDICTS SUBMIT TO TREATMENT. FURTHERMORE, ILLEGAL CHINESE ALIENS HAVE BEEN DEPORTED, A TECHNICAL ADVISORY COUNCIL ON DRUGS HAS BEEN FORMED, AND A DUTCH POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN STATIONED AT THE CONSULATE IN BANGKOK. AS A RESULT OF THESE MEASURES AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION, ESPECIALLY WITHIN WESTERN EUROPE, THE SITUATION HAS BEEN ALTERED. OTHER CITIES, ESPECIALLY PARIS, BRUSSELS, AND FRANKFURT, ARE THE DRUG INFLOW POINTS; DRUGS ARE TRANSPORTED FROM THERE TO HOLLAND. WITHING HOLLAND, AMSTERDAM NO LONGER MONOPOLIZES DRUG TRADE; THE HAGUE, ROTTERDAM, AND EVEN SMALL TOWNS HAVE BECOME IMPORTANT. DRUG CARRIERS ARE USUALLY TURKISH, ALTHOUGH TURKISH AUTHORITIES HAVE BEEN HELPFUL IN CURBING SMUGGLING. DRUG CRIMES MUST BE ACCEPTED AS PART OF THE 'NORMAL' CRIME SPECTRUM, BUT DRUG CRIME INCIDENCE MAY BE REDUCED BY INTENSIVE INTERNATIONAL CONTACTS, POLICE COMMAND LEVEL MEETINGS, WORKING AGREEMENTS, MUTUAL ASSISTANCE, AND INFORMATION EXCHANGE. --IN GERMAN. (KMD)