Driver flees Netherlands crash scene leaving behind 3000kilograms of hash

[SevenSeasJim]

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.