Karel Van Noppen was a veterinary inspector who inspected farmers for hormone use. Despite a number of threats, he continued with his work. On 20 February 1995, his car was stopped near his home in Wechelderzande, and he was shot dead with three bullets.
In April 2002, four suspects were found guilty of the murder. This group has become known as 'the hormone mafia'. 2011 saw the release of 'Rundskop', a Flemish-Dutch crime film based on the hormone mafia and the murder of Karel Van Noppen.
In 2020, Karel Van Noppen was posthumously named honorary citizen of Lille. There is a memorial plaque on Het Zand, and a street was also named after him.
An electricity box was painted for Tour Elentrik Wechelderzande in honour of his memory.
