Veldhoven man sentenced to prison and ordered to repay €897,000 for nitrous oxide trade

A 26-year-old man from Veldhoven has been sentenced to 24 months in prison for large-scale illegal trading of nitrous oxide (laughing gas). Of this sentence, six months are suspended.

The court in Oost-Brabant ordered the individual to repay over 897,000 euros, representing the profits earned through his illegal activities. The investigation revealed that the man, working with others, stored approximately 646 kilograms of nitrous oxide across two locations over a nine-month period.

Despite laws criminalizing the possession and transport of nitrous oxide starting in January 2023, the defendant continued his operations through 2024 and 2025. The court noted that his prior convictions for similar offenses and his decision to continue trading during a probation period for previous crimes were aggravating factors. The court also highlighted the societal and environmental impacts of nitrous oxide, including potential nervous system damage and environmental littering from empty cylinders.