Criminal organization transporting drugs to the UK convicted
Five members of a criminal organization have been convicted to imprisonment today by the Dutch Court Midden-Nederland varying from seven to sixteen years. They were found guilty not only of organizing large drug transports from The Netherlands to the UK during the years 2013 – 2018, but also of liquidations, money laundering and receiving stolen cars. They were also in the possession of weapons and ammunition. Two other suspects were acquitted.
Since the penalties imposed are lower than the Public Prosecutor Midden-Nederland had required during the court sessions, appeal will be considered with respect to two suspects. However, sixteen years is the maximum penalty for the crimes which the court deemed proven. During the Dutch investigation use was made of the findings of the investigators in England where several of these drug transports were intercepted. With the English Police and Criminal Investigation Department a Joint Investigation Team was set up which resulted in a co-operation which greatly advanced the Dutch investigation and contributed to the verdict today.
The main suspect (38 years from Nieuwegein) was convicted to sixteen years imprisonment. Another suspect (33 years, Nieuwegein) who also played a major role in the organization was sentenced to fourteen years imprisonment. The other three suspects who had various tasks, such as carrying out the transports or providing storage facilities, were convicted to imprisonment for seven or eight years. The organization transported mainly heroin and cocaine in jump starters from which the batteries had been removed and the inside was covered with a layer of lead. Dozens of transports were carried out, varying from 40 to 110 kilo’s, 2500 kilo’s in total. The transports took place between Kampen and Gravesend, Veenendaal and Barking or Leigh en between Ochten and London or Birmingham. Each time a transport was intercepted a new line was set up. During the investigation a large amount of weapons and ammunition was confiscated as well as stolen cars. These goods were stored in a way which indicated that they were ready to be used for liquidations.
Regional Head of Investigations at the National Crime Agency, Jacque Beer, said: “Today’s outcome concludes an investigation that began in the UK and through close collaboration with our partners across Europe, ends in the Netherlands. Following a huge drugs seizure in the UK in 2016 and further analysis by NCA officers, information that was crucial to the arrest of the main subject and the apprehension of the others was uncovered.”
“These men were clearly serious and organised criminals, who not only sought to profit from trafficking drugs, but in case of the main suspect, showed little respect for human life. Through joint working with our colleagues both in the UK and abroad, we’ve stopped a huge amount of Class A drugs from reaching the streets and today’s result will have fractured a key source of drugs from entering the market.”