Thieves have stolen a gigantic collection of ecstasy which was gathered by an enthusiast over two decades and carefully stored in display albums, police said.

A total of 2,400 tablets – collected by a man who said he did not take them but was “fascinated by the pills’ logos”. The man in the town of Eerbeek, 90 kilometres east of Amsterdam, claims he collected the pills over two decades, keeping them in coin collecting folders. They were allegedly taken during a break-in.

The pills were worth up to 12,000 euros ($19,200) and arranged in around 10 display albums normally used for coins in the man’s home, from where they were taken.

Police warned that they included a batch of 40 white and red tablets that could be lethal if taken.

“The collector claims that it was a hobby,” police spokesman Bert Top said.

“He is not risking anything at the moment,” Mr Top said, but added that authorities were mulling the possibility of prosecuting him.

Police added that collecting ecstasy in such a fashion was prohibited.

Spokeswoman Esther Naber says police believe the man is serious but can’t be sure. She said it is not clear whether the man will be charged with a crime, given that the illegal drugs have vanished.