A Danish intelligence agency employee faces serious charges after allegedly stealing hundreds of fentanyl ampoules from one of the country's most secure facilities. The case has raised numerous unanswered questions about security protocols within Denmark's intelligence community.
The 36-year-old employee of the Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) is accused of stealing at least 588 ampoules of the powerful painkiller fentanyl from the agency's headquarters in Buddinge. The thefts reportedly occurred over several months from January to June 2021.
According to court documents, the stolen fentanyl amounted to nearly 63,000 micrograms. Most ampoules contained 100 micrograms each, while ten contained 500 micrograms.
How did an employee manage to remove such quantities of controlled substances from one of Denmark's most secure buildings? What was the intended purpose of the stolen drugs? These questions remain unanswered as the case continues to unfold behind closed doors.
The employee also faces weapons charges for storing 41 shotgun shells, 8 rifle cartridges, and 36 full-jacketed bullets in a kitchen drawer at his private home in North Zealand. Additional charges involve storing ammunition in an unapproved cabinet at PET headquarters, violating security protocols.
Prosecutor Line Scharf successfully argued for closing the courtroom doors during the employee's testimony, citing the need to protect PET's operational methods. The agency reported the case to Denmark's Independent Police Complaints Authority after the employee allegedly confessed his drug use to his wife and a colleague.
Evidence in the case includes a 2021 hair test that showed traces of fentanyl, which can be detected in hair for up to one month after use. The employee worked as a "medic" for the intelligence service, a position that provided specialized medical knowledge and potentially access to controlled substances.
The defendant denies guilt regarding the fentanyl theft but admits violating weapons laws by storing ammunition improperly. His defense attorney, Henrik Garlik, confirmed his client pleads not guilty to the primary theft charges.
Fentanyl is a synthetic pain medication used for patients with severe pain in Denmark and internationally. The substance is 50 times stronger than heroin, with just two milligrams potentially proving fatal. The drug's lethality increases when mixed with other narcotics.
It remains unclear whether the accused still works for the intelligence service or elsewhere within Danish police. The case highlights concerning security vulnerabilities within an agency responsible for national security.
The courtroom closure and limited public information reflect the typical secrecy surrounding intelligence operations, leaving many aspects of this unusual case shrouded in mystery.